Effort: Medium
What to notice
Pair a likely obstacle with a small feasible response.
Where it fits
- Fits
- Users whose learning or work is repeatedly blocked by a known obstacle.
- Use it when
- When a plan can be reduced to an action the person can feasibly take.
- Avoid it when
- When revealing a personal obstacle would be required for access.
How to build it
- Offer one desired outcome and one user-identified obstacle.
- Choose a small response for that obstacle.
- Allow edit, deletion and use without storage.
Measure
- Main metric
- Share of eligible users acting at their planned opportunity
- Guardrail
- Reflection burden and failed deletion of stored plans
- How to measure
- Allocate comparison groups before exposure and use equal follow-up and eligibility. Track Share of eligible users acting at their planned opportunity alongside Reflection burden and failed deletion of stored plans.
When it backfires
Do not frame illness or structural constraints as solvable by effort alone.
Alternatives
Theory behind it
Mental contrasting
Consider present obstacles alongside a desired future.
Limited evidence
Implementation intentions
Link an intended action to a specific situation rather than setting a goal alone.
Well supported
Evidence limits: An editorial web application; conversion effects on this interface are unmeasured. Effects depend on domain and feasibility. Do not infer private routines, send unsolicited reminders or promise health benefits.