Abstract for: Using systems archetypes in public health: A scoping review connecting system dynamics literature and public health applications

Systems archetypes represent typical system structure-behaviour combinations that can be ‘diagnosed’ across different systems to identify potential leverage points. This scoping review examined their history and value based on foundational system dynamics literature, to reflect on public health applications. We found that archetypes help generate hypotheses about leverage points and unintended consequences of interventions, but two methodological considerations emerged. First, archetypes help systematise generating hypotheses, prompting systematic examination of storyline, system behaviour over time and system structure. However, these hypotheses still require testing. All 29 public health studies acknowledged this hypothesis-generating function and suggested testing through quantitative system dynamics modelling or real-world experiments. Second, archetypes support cross-checking hypotheses about system behaviour with (qualitative or quantitative) empirical data over time. However, leaving this cross-checking out risks jumping to conclusions. While nearly all 29 public health studies engaged with storyline and system structure to identify an archetype, only nine addressed system behaviour over time. To conclude, using archetypes in public health facilitates evidence-based hypotheses about system behaviour, leverage points and unintended consequences – yet their use could be more disciplined.