- Behavior
- Intention to perform the behavior
- Attitude
- Behavioral beliefs
- Evaluation of behavioral outcomes
- Subjective norm
- Normative beliefs
- Motivation to comply
- External variables
- Demographics
- Attitude towards targets
- Personality traits
- Other individual difference variables
Intention to perform the behavior
Definition(s):
- An indication of an individual's readiness to perform the behavior
- The most important predictor a desired behavior will actually occur
- A function of both attitudes towards a behavior and subjective norms toward that behavior
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "If I have insertive anal sex during the next two months, I intend to always use latex condoms"
- Followed by a 5 point very likely / very unlikely response scale
Attitude
Definition(s):
- A mental state involving beliefs, feelings, values, and dispositions to act in certain ways
- A function of the individual's beliefs about the behavior (behavioral beliefs) and the individual's beliefs about the outcomes of performing the behavior (evaluation of behavioral outcomes)
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "Always using latex condoms during the insertive anal sex during the next two months would be"
- Followed by three 5 point evaluative response scales anchored by very good / very bad, very awful / very nice, very pleasant / very unpleasant
Subjective Norm
Definition(s):
- An individual's perception of social norms or his/her peers' beliefs about a behavior
- A function of an individual's normative beliefs and motivation to comply with beliefs
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "Most people who are important to me think I should always use latex condoms during insertive anal sex during the next two months"
- Followed by a 5 point very true / very untrue response scale
Behavioral Beliefs
Definitions(s):
- Belief that behavioral performance is associated with certain attributes or performances
- Beliefs about consequences of the behavior
- Contributes to attitude along with evaluation of behavioral outcomes
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "Always using latex condoms during insertive anal sex during the next two months would reduce my fear of getting AIDS"
- Followed by a 5 point very true / very untrue response scale
Evaluation of behavioral outcomes
Definition(s):
- Value attached to a behavioral outcome or attribute
- Positive or negative judgments about features of the behavior
- Contributes to attitude along with behavioral beliefs
Examples:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men , baseline question: "Reducing my fear of getting AIDS would be"
- Followed by a 5 point very good / very bad response scale
Normative beliefs
Definition(s):
- Belief about whether referents approve or disapprove of the behavior
- Contributes to subjective norms along with motivation to comply
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "My partner(s) think I should always use latex condoms during insertive anal sex during the next two months"
- Followed by a 5 point very true / very untrue response scale
Motivation to comply
Definition(s):
- Motivation to do what salient referents think an individual should do
- Contributes to subjective norms along with normative beliefs
Example:
- Prospective study concerning condom use among homosexual men, baseline question: "Concerning safer sex, in general, I want to do what my partner(s) think I should do"
- Followed by a 5 point very true / very untrue response scale
External variables
- Demographics
- Attitudes towards targets
- Some behavioral scientists use the terms "targets" when referencing TRA. Targets are considered to be the negative health outcomes of the behavior. Example: Behavior = smoking; Target = lung cancer, heart disease, etc.
- Personality traits
- Other individual difference variables