The future of health behavior and prevention research: what will change in the next 25 years?

To review progress in the field of health behavior research and suggest future directions.

Reviewed the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of research during the past 25 years and identified likely technological changes that will impact research during the next 25 years.

In the not-too-distant future, normal science will be transformed by broad-based diffusion of innovations, some of which will include the increased use of automated data collection methods and the widespread adoption of research-based programs.

Research during the next 25 years will eventually result in a radical transformation of health behavior research.