For Your Eyes Only: A Field Experiment on Nudging Hygienic Behavior

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Hilde Mobekk¹  Dag Olav Hessen²  Asle Fagerstrøm³  Hanne Jacobsen¹ 

[1] Department of Behavioural Sciences, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University;Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo;Department of Technology, Kristiania University College

关键词: field experiment;    nudging;    sanitizing;    cooperation;    observing eyes;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603440

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

These days many gyms and fitness centers are closed to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in society. The gym is an environment rich in microorganisms, and careful hygiene is a necessity to keep infections at bay. Exercise centers strive for better hygiene compliance among their members. This effort has become essential in light of the current pandemic. Several experimental studies show that others’ physical presence, or the “illusion” of being watched, may alter behavior. This article reports on a natural field experiment testing one specific social nudge intended to increase gym members’ hygienic behavior. The study was conducted before the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. A picture of “observing eyes” was attached to paper dispensers and cleanser spray bottles at two different gyms in Norway. A reversal design, also called an ABA design, with and without the nudge’s presence, was used to investigate the impact on gym members’ hygienic behavior. A follow-up study was conducted in one of the centers to investigate whether the nudge stimuli would function over time. The study included 254 individual choice situations during nine observation sessions conducted over 9 weeks. The results from both centers provide evidence of a strong effect of the nudge. However, the effect decreased during the follow-up study. These findings support previous research indicating that human behavior is influenced by the presence of implicit observation cues – in this case – observing eyes. However, insights into the long-term effect of implicit observation cues are still needed since the salience of the stimuli faded over time.

【 授权许可】

CC BY