Improving waste sorting behavior in a university environment with visual prompt stimulus
The purpose of the study was to examine how well people at Reykjavík University were sorting waste under the current instructions and see if addition of prompt intervention would improve waste sorting. Participants in the study were students, staff and visitors at the university building during data collection. The experimental design used was multiple baseline across settings. The ratio for right and wrongly sorted waste in recycling bins was analyzed across 3 locations in the Reykjavík University. A prompt intervention was used in addition to current instructions on waste sorting. The prompt was a poster that displayed the word “Stop” and two instruction pictures. One picture depicted the most common error made in waste sorting and the other after it had been adjusted. The posters were placed on top of selected recycling bins. The findings revealed that a majority of the waste items were sorted incorrectly under the current instructions and that the intervention improved sorting behavior by decreasing the percent of incorrectly sorted waste. Ratio for wrongly sorted waste indicated that current instructions were ineffective and did not encourage appropriate waste sorting behavior. The effect of the intervention further suggested a need for revision of the current instructions with the aim of improving waste sorting behavior.
Sálfræði, Sorpflokkun, Endurvinnsla, Atferli, Psychology, Recycling (Waste, etc.), Behavior
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