Our Research Framework
Building a Coherent Science of Behavior Change
Behavior change research is growing rapidly. But growth without clarity fragments the field.
Our research is guided by six pillars that ensure rigor, equity, cumulative knowledge, and real-world impact. Together, they form a framework for advancing coaching and behavior change as a scientifically coherent, ethically grounded field.
01
Equity Is Scientific Rigor
Behavior change is not culturally neutral.
Who is studied.
How change is defined.
What counts as evidence.
These are scientific decisions — not secondary considerations.
We advance research that:
- Includes diverse populations and real-world contexts
- Examines cultural assumptions embedded in theory and measurement
- Disaggregates data to reveal who benefits — and who does not
- Values lived experience alongside experimental design
02
Defining the Profession Clearly
If we cannot clearly define coaching, we cannot study it well.
Research credibility depends on:
- Clear scope boundaries
- Defined competencies
- Measurable quality and fidelity
- Ethical safeguards and governance
We prioritize definitional clarity so findings can accumulate — rather than fragment — the field.
03
Making Research Comparable
Too often, studies evaluate “programs” without clearly describing what was delivered.
We focus on:
- Precise intervention specification
- Transparent reporting of components, dose, delivery, and supervision
- Shared language and taxonomies
- Replicable designs
If an intervention cannot be clearly described, it cannot contribute to cumulative science.
04
Moving Beyond “Does It Work?”
Demonstrating outcomes is not enough.
We ask:
- What exactly did the practitioner do?
- Under what conditions did change occur?
We distinguish:
- Practitioner mechanisms (what is delivered)
- Participant processes (what shifts internally)
- Outcomes (what changes behaviorally or clinically)
Explanatory precision strengthens training, improves equity, and builds sustainable models.
05
Research With Communities, Not On Them
Research Distributes Power
It determines:
- Which questions matter
- Whose expertise is valued
- Who benefits from findings
We prioritize:
- Shared governance
- Community-informed research questions
- Capacity building and shared authorship
- Long-term accountability
Scientific integrity requires relational integrity.
06
From Evidence to Integration
If research cannot survive contact with real systems, it cannot transform them.
We examine:
- Feasibility within clinical and community workflows
- Interprofessional integration
- Financing and sustainability
- Fidelity alongside responsible adaptation
We structure research so that promising pilots move systematically toward implementation and long-term impact.
Join our research network
Thank you for your interest in helping advance research in behavior change science! We have many opportunities for getting involved! Please fill out this form if you are interested in working with us or if you have other research ideas or opportunities. We look forward to hearing from you and having your voice in these important efforts.