In general, people move through these stages in a developmental process, advancing from concerns that focus on the effect of the change on themselves through concerns about how best to perform the task to concerns about the impact of the change on students and how the innovation can be improved. The key to using Stages of Concern is the recognition of the role of the individuals who are implementing the change. Educators who collect SoC data can identify where teachers are in the SoC continuum and plan their interventions accordingly. Use of the SoC and the SoCQ allows project leaders to develop profiles of the individuals involved in the change process. These profiles identify where people fall on the various stages and suggest what their needs are.
Facilitators can adjust their interventions accordingly.
Some projects administer SoCQs or otherwise develop and refine profiles several times during a project's duration, both to track teacher buy-in and to refine their approach to teachers. The LoU measures behaviors. The user is seeking more effective alternatives to the established use of the innovation. The user is making deliberate efforts to coordinate with others in using the innovation. The user is making changes to increase outcomes.