Feedback & Prompts

Katzev (1992):

In order to increase awareness about the consequenses of not recycling, a sign was posted indicating the amount of paper collected the previous day that was not recycled. This feedback increased paper recycling by 76.7% from the base-line amount. After the sign was removed, recycling was still shown to have improved being 48.3% above the base-level.

Results:

• Feedback proven to be effective way to change behavior and maintain change.

• Feedback responds to individuals desire to learn about consequences of their behavior.

• Feedback is relatively inexpensive and easily implemented.

Source: Katzev, R., & Henry, R. M. (1992). The use of posted feedback to promote recycling. Psychological Reports, 71(1), 259-264.

Witmer & Geller (1976):

This study observed the use of prompts, contests and raffles to promote student recycling. The prompts consisted of flyers that were put under the doors of dorm rooms. The contest method involved dorms challenges to deliver the most paper in order to win fifteen dollars for its treasury. In the raffles conducted, individual students received a raffle ticket for every pound of paper they brought to a certain location.

Results:

• Prompts turned out to be one of the least effective ways to change students’ behaviors and attitudes towards recycling.

• Contests are only sometimes effective at changing students behavior towards recycling. The amount of students recycling only increased while the contest performed when the study occurring.
• Raffles are the most effective way to change students’ recycling behavior. The amount recycling drastically changed while the raffles were taking place. After the raffles were stopped there were still more students recycling than before the study was conducted.

Source: Witmer, J. F., & Geller, E. S. (1976). Facilitating paper recycling: Effects of prompts, raffles, and contests1. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9(3), 315. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1976.9-315.