The Ecology of Human Performance: A Framework for Considering the Effect of Context

Abstract

In theory and in practice, context (as an area of concern to occupational therapists) has not received the same attention as performance components and performance areas. The Ecology of Human Performance serves as a framework for considering the effect of context. Context is described as a lens from which persons view their world. The interrelationship of person and context determines which tasks fall within the person's performance range. The Ecology of Human Performance framework provides guidelines for encompassing context in occupational therapy theory, practice, and research.

Changes in Parents’ Time Use and Its Relationship to Child Obesity

“…The specific occupation-focused theoretical framework used in the LiLi-program comes from the research regarding complexity and organization of daily occupations ) and the ValMO model. It is based on system theory and applies an eco-cultural perspective (Dunn, Brown, & McGuigan, 1994) in order to consider the impact of different environments on the patterns of daily occupations. This perspective is often applied in family interventions (Dunn, 2007;Weisner, 2002).…”

The lived experience of drivers with a spinal cord injury: A qualitative inquiry

“…In our study, we used the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) model, which offers a way of understanding how performance is tied to the context 16,17 . Ecology, in this model, is the interaction occurring between the person and his or her environment.…”

“…The EHP model acknowledges that this interdependence between the person and the environment positively or negatively influences behaviour and occupational performance. The model also illustrates a relationship between the constructs of person, context, tasks, performance, and therapeutic intervention 16,17 . Under the guiding principles of the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) model 17 the conceptual framework for this study, we studied the domains of the person (e.g.…”

Introduction to Occupation‐Centred Practice with Children

“…This ecological approach focuses on studying the person-environment interaction during daily functional tasks. Some occupational therapy models related to these concepts include the Ecological Model of Human Performance (Dunn, Brown, & McGuigan, 1994), Person-Environment-Occupation Model (Law et al, 1996) and the PersonEnvironment-Occupation-Performance Model (Christiansen & Baum, 1997;Christiansen et al, 2005).…”