Basic Field Guide to the Positive Deviance Approach

"[I]t results in community mobilization and ownership, discovery of existing solutions, creation of new networks, and emergence of new solutions as a result of community initiatives."

Positive deviance (PD) is a problem solving, asset-based approach "grounded in the fact that communities have assets or resources they haven't tapped. It enables a community or organization to amplify uncommon behaviors or strategies discovered by community members among the least likely to succeed (positive deviants), develop some activities or initiatives based on these findings and measure outcomes. The PD approach brings about sustainable behavioral and social change by identifying solutions already existing in the system."

This field guide from the Positive Deviance Initiative is designed to orient newcomers to the PD approach - which has been used to address a myriad of development issues, such as education, nutrition, and public health - and to provide tools to get started. It includes a brief description of basic definitions, as well as the guiding principles, steps, and process characteristics. The guide also offers suggestions of when to use the PD approach, provides facilitation tips, and outlines possible challenges.

"Its brevity and simplicity are meant to invite curious and intrepid implementers who face complex problems requiring behavioral and social change." It includes practical advice, such as: "For the most thoughtful and revealing responses, use open ended questions that ask what, how, why, why now?" This particular section of the guide offers examples of what a PD practitioner might ask or say in specific situations to facilitate or refocus discussions.