COH604

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute. (2005). Theory at a glance: A guide for health promotion practice (pp. 35–46)
This section shows how public health professionals use theory to plan real interventions. It walks through how to choose a theory, apply it to strategy, and evaluate if it worked which are core skills you’re practicing in this module.

French, S. D., Green, S. E., O’Connor, D. A., McKenzie, J. E., Francis, J. J., Michie, S., Buchbinder, R., Schattner, P., Spike, N. & Grimshaw, J. M. (2012). Developing theory-informed behaviour change interventions to implement evidence into practice: A systematic approach using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Implementation Science, 7(38), 1–8.
This article shows how a real health intervention was built using a structured approach to theory selection. It walks through how researchers chose which theories and constructs to use, and how they turned those into strategies. It’s a strong example of how to explain the “why” behind theory choices in public health.

Michie, S., Johnston, M., Francis, J., Hardeman, W., & Eccles, M. (2008). From theory to intervention: Mapping theoretically derived behavioural determinants to behaviour change techniques. Applied Psychology, 57(4), 660-680.
This article helps you move from theory to action. It explains how to take key ideas from a theory and connect them to specific techniques or strategies. This is useful when planning how to turn your theory into something that works in practice.

Lippke, S., & Ziegelmann, J. P. (2008). Theory-based health behavior change: Developing, testing, and applying theories for evidence-based interventions. Applied Psychology, 57(4), 698-716.
This article helps you see how theories are created, tested, and used to guide real interventions. It builds on the first reading by showing how to choose a theory that fits your behavior and population, and how to explain that choice clearly.

Rothman, A. J. (2004). “Is there nothing more practical than a good theory?”: Why innovations and advances in health behavior change will arise if interventions are used to test and refine theory. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 1, 11.
This short reading encourages you to think about the bigger picture. It explains that theory is not just a planning tool. It is also something we improve through practice. It adds a final layer of reflection as you think about using theory in your own work.

Center for Community Health and Development. (n.d.). Developing a logic model or theory of change. University of Kansas.
This resource shows how to break down your thinking and connect theory to real-world actions and outcomes. It helps you see how theory can guide clear, organized planning in public health.

Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2022). Theory of change: A thinking tool for creating lasting change.
This guide helps you think through how and why change happens. It’s useful for learning how to explain why a theory makes sense for a specific behavior, setting, or group.