Presentation about an experiment to introduce more randomness into my life. These slides accompany a five minute presentation to a class on the design of behavioral health interventions. Concepts covered by the intervention include Durkheimian Network theory, commitment and consistency, cognitive dissonance, and gamification. Learning outcomes form a qualitative analysis of a personal journal.

1. Randomize
A Do-To-Yourself (DTY) experiment
in compulsively dictating spontaneity
Michael J. Bernstein
30 October 2013
NTR 598

2. Why add randomness?

3. How add randomness?

4. What have I done?!
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•
•
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Gamification: Roll for Bernstein
!
Commitment
!
Durkheimian network theory:
include a core social group
!
Cognitive dissonance: be a grouch
or teach myself to re-frame
randomness.

5. What I Learned
Planning is important…but a
calendar is a means, not an end
Interruptions are only
interruptions if you say they are
Randomness is not spontaneity is
not variability
Frustration is a choice. Choose
not to be.
…I need more practice designing experiments
and testing assumptions…

6. My thanks to the friends whose opened my perspective
and enabled me to conduct this experiment