As water scarcity problems will probably increase over the next decade, it is important to explore ways to reduce water consumption in everyday individual behaviors. In line with previous field research, we aimed to show in a laboratory setting that descriptive norms could effectively influence water reduction actions. Moreover, because the impact of such actions would be valuable if repeated over time, we investigated whether the effect of descriptive norms interventions can last for at least a week. We conducted three studies using two messages targeting different ways to achieve a reduction in water consumption (i.e., closing the tap and using as little water as possible) for hand washing. We provide additional empirical evidence that descriptive norms are effective in increasing water conservation actions and that this influence remains for at least a week.

Richetin, J., Perugini, M., Mondini, D., Hurling, R. (2016). Conserving Water While Washing Hands: The Immediate and Durable Impacts of Descriptive Norms. ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIOR, 48(2), 343-364 [10.1177/0013916514543683].

Conserving Water While Washing Hands: The Immediate and Durable Impacts of Descriptive Norms

RICHETIN, JULIETTE
;
PERUGINI, MARCO;
2016

Abstract

As water scarcity problems will probably increase over the next decade, it is important to explore ways to reduce water consumption in everyday individual behaviors. In line with previous field research, we aimed to show in a laboratory setting that descriptive norms could effectively influence water reduction actions. Moreover, because the impact of such actions would be valuable if repeated over time, we investigated whether the effect of descriptive norms interventions can last for at least a week. We conducted three studies using two messages targeting different ways to achieve a reduction in water consumption (i.e., closing the tap and using as little water as possible) for hand washing. We provide additional empirical evidence that descriptive norms are effective in increasing water conservation actions and that this influence remains for at least a week.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
behavior change; conservation; norms; temporal effects; water consumption;
behavior change, conservation, water consumption, norms, temporal effects
English
2016
48
2
343
364
none
Richetin, J., Perugini, M., Mondini, D., Hurling, R. (2016). Conserving Water While Washing Hands: The Immediate and Durable Impacts of Descriptive Norms. ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIOR, 48(2), 343-364 [10.1177/0013916514543683].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/53482
Citazioni
  • Scopus 24
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
Social impact