A Self-learning Application Framework for Behavioral Change Support

The paper analyzes current weaknesses of behavioral change support systems such as the lack of adequately taking into account the heterogeneity of target users. Based on this analysis the paper presents an application framework that comprises various components to accommodate user preferences and to adapt system interventions to individual users: a goal hierarchy which users can tailor to their needs, dividing nudges into different types that correspond to speech acts, rules for context-specific triggering of nudges. User adaptation is realized with approaches from user modeling and collaborative filtering. The result is a self-learning application that changes in line with a user's progress, which is expected to enhance user acceptance and increase and sustain people's motivation for behavioral change. The application framework will be evaluated by comparing a mobile health app using the framework with a simplified version of the app that does not support user tailoring and adaptation.