Persuasive Systems Design and Self Determination Theory: Mapping System Features to Intervention Framework to Foster Motivation

Abstract

To study the effects of a persuasive system on system users' behaviour, it is important to know what content was delivered via the system and how. This paper presents a mapping of Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) features and key elements for autonomous motivation, as presented in Self Determination Theory (SDT). These were used in an actual design of a Behavior Change Support System for micro-entrepreneurs' occupational health. The mapping shows how the theory guiding the intervention was realized through the persuasive system features. This exercise illustrates the need for specifying what feature of a system are built for which purpose so that it becomes easier to assess and evaluate how exactly a system has delivered the behavioural change and outcome.