Designing Effective Instructional Signs with Schema Theory: Case Studies of Polystyrene Recycling

Articles
Werner, C. M., Rhodes, M.U. & Partain, K. K. (1998). Designing effective instructional signs with schema theory: Case studies of polystyrene recycling. Environment and Behavior, 30, 5, 709-735.
Two studies supported the hypothesis that signs designed to create a new polystyrene schema would be more effective than signs that did not address patrons' existing schemata. Sch…

Who Recycles and When? A Review of Personal and Situational Factors

Articles
Schultz, P. W., Oskamp, S., & Mainieri, T. (1995). Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors. Journal of Enviornmental Psychology, 15, 2, 105-121.
Reviews 80 studies, published 1969-1995, to examine recyling behaviors as differentiated from attitudes and intentions. The effects on recycling behavior of both personal variabl…

Increasing Recycling in Office Environments: The Effects of Specific, Informative Cues

Articles
Austin, J., Hatfield, D. B., Grindle, A. C., & Bailey, J. S. (1993). Increasing recycling in office environments: The effects of specific, informative cues. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 2, 247-253.
Investigated the effects of prompts on the recycling behavior of approximately 217 faculty, staff, and graduate students in 2 academic departments of a large university. During th…

Effects of Verbal Prompting and Block Characteristics on Participation in Curbside Newspaper Recycling

Articles
Spaccarelli, S., Zolik, E. & Jason, L. A. (1989-1990). Effects of verbal prompting and block characteristics on participation in curbside newspaper recycling. Journal of Environmental Systems, 19, 1, 45-57.
The effects of two prompting procedures to promote curbside recycling of newspapers were evaluated. Results indicated no effect on weekly percent participation after handbills al…

Newspaper Recycling Behavior: The Effects of Prompting and Proximity of Containers

Articles
Reid, D. H., Luyben, P. D., Rawers, R. J. & Bailey, J. S. (1976). Newspaper recycling behavior: the effects of prompting and proximity of containers. Environment and Behavior, 8, 471-481.
Used a multiple baseline experimental design to investigate prompting and proximity of recycling containers as variables affecting newspaper recycling by apartment residents. Fo…

Motivating Beverage Container Recycling on a College Campus

Articles
Luyben, P. & Cummings, S. (1981-1982). Motivating beverage container recycling on a college campus. Journal of Environmental Systems, 11, 3, 235-245.
Maintaining our materials base for production in the face of the declining energy and materials resources requires effective procedures to encourage recycling of scarce resources.…

Evaluating Participation in a Residential Recycling Program

Articles
Jacobs, H. E. & Bailey, J. S. (1982-83). Evaluating participation in a residential recycling program. Journal of Environmental Systems, 12, 2, 141-152.
The present study examined the effects of prompting, payment for material, a lottery, and frequency of collection on household participation in a residential recycling program. H…

Recycling as Altruistic Behavior: Normative and Behavioral Strategies to Expand Participation in a Community Recycling Program

Articles
Hopper, J. R., & Nielsen, J. M. (1991). Recycling as altruistic behavior: Normative and behavioral strategies to expand participation in a community recycling program. Environment and Behavior, 23, 2, 195-220.
Experimental and survey data from 122 residents of a large urban neighborhood with a community-wide curbside recycling program confirm that recycling behavior is consistent with S…

It Matters a Hole Lot: Perceptual Affordances of Waste Containers Influence Recycling Compliance

Articles
Duffy, S., & Verges, M. (2009). It matters a hole lot: Perceptual affordances of waste containers influence recycling compliance. Environment and Behavior, 41(5), 741-749.
This article examines whether specialized lids on waste receptacles affect recycling compliance in public settings. Thirty waste receptacles were assigned to a lids-present and li…

Signs that Encourage Internalized Recycling: Clinical Validation, Weak Messages and 'Creative Elaboration'

Articles
Werner, C., White, P., Byerly, S., & Stoll, R. (2009). Signs that encourage internalized recycling: Clinical validation, weak messages and 'creative elaboration.'. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(2), 193-202.
Two experiments examined clinical validation’s ability to increase examination of a persuasive message and increase long-term recycling. In Experiment 1, validating (acknowledging…

Virtual Oceania

Introductory Workshop

May 29th - 31st, 2024

Learn More

Virtual North America

Introductory Workshop

Jun 3rd - 5th, 2024

Learn More
Site Courtesy of
McKenzie-Mohr & Associates

Expertise in Community-Based Social Marketing