Download Psy 250: - Plymouth University

PSY 250: WORKPLACE LEARNING
AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
A closer look at the University
of Plymouth campus
Sabine Pahl
Outline 4 sessions
 1) identify key issues; Observation methods
Task: explore UoP and observe users -> Presentation 1
 2) Report your findings in Presentation 1; Discussion &
limitations; Questionnaire / interview methods
Task: investigate user attitudes; add to first findings?
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 3) Report your findings in Presentation 2; first ideas for
recommendations, more background Task: develop set of
recommendations
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 4) Presentation 3: recommendations in roleplay context
Psychology of Sustainability
Discussion of recommendations
 Two scenarios:
1) Group 1 in the user forum for waste & recycling
Group rep to briefly present recommendations first
then role play / debate
2) Group 2 in the senior management forum for energy
Group rep to briefly present recommendations first
then role play / debate
Psychology of Sustainability
Scenarios 1 & 2
 Distribution of roles
 5 minutes preparation for roles & facilitator,
and for those who present recommendations
 Presentation of recommendations
 questions & discussion – focus on which
recommendations should be implemented /
adapted and possible problems (groups are
ready to add / comment / help)
 Final statement each participant & summary re
recommendations by group reps
 Discussion forum (perhaps not solution)
Interdisciplinary and Disciplinary
Research
 The climate problem is interdisciplinary
 Crosses natural science, social science,
engineering, public health, etc.
 Contribution of psychology is strongest
when linked to other disciplines
 Disciplines have complementary insights
 Psychology contributes most where other
disciplines fail to explain phenomena well
 ..and has least to add when non-psychological
factors dominate
 But it’s not easy to know which situation is
which, so interdisciplinary analysis is essential
< Stern, 2009
Some areas where psychology
(behavioral sciences) can contribute
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Understanding the behaviors that drive climate
change
Intervening to change those behaviors
(example: quickly reducing direct household
energy use)
Improving public understanding of climate,
climate change, and climate risk
Understanding public support, opposition, and
acceptance related to policy and technological
responses to climate change
Improving decision making in response to
climate change
< Stern, 2009
Understandings of climate and climate risk:
A major cognitive problem
Mismatch between climate phenomena
and usual ways of knowing
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Past experience is misleading about the future
Information from the senses is misleading
Multiple hazards, some of them catastrophic
The probability of each hazard is uncertain
Long time horizons; socioeconomic conditions
will change before hazards materialise
Possibility of totally unexpected consequences
Local effects are especially hard to anticipate
Use of inappropriate mental models
Need to rely on trusted information sources
< Stern, 2009
Understanding the behaviors that drive
climate change
 Identifying the most important behaviors
 Government statistics are collected by fuels,
sectors (industry, transport, residential)
 Behavioral analysis is by actors, actions,
purposes
 Defined by actors, household energy use
is BIG: In USA, 38% of total energy use
(22% in home; 16% in non-business travel)
 Much of this is built into equipment
(typically >1/2 the variance in home energy consumption)
 But much is not (same equipment, different use)
 Both adoption and use of equipment are
< Stern, 2009
behavioral, and need analysis
What can behavioral science add?
 Social marketing insights seem to apply
 Use credible information sources (e.g., word of mouth)
 Use multiple communication channels
 Use interpersonal interactions
 Apply psychological principles of message design
 The most effective programs address nonfinancial barriers
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Attracting attention (e.g., social marketing)
Action-specific information (on what to do and expect)
Convenience (few hurdles for consumers to jump)
Quality assurance (e.g., certification, inspection)
 Incentives are most effective in combination with
interventions that address other barriers
< Stern, 2009
How to Design Effective
Interventions
 Address multiple barriers to behavioral
change (use multidisciplinary analysis)
 Combine influence factors (information,
marketing, financial incentives, quality
assurance, convenience)
 Tailor intervention to suit the target action
 Understand behavior from the user’s
perspective and do not presume motives or
abilities
 Recognize that behavior is often constrained
by factors beyond the individual’s control
(e.g., the practices of repair personnel,
manufacturers, wholesalers)
 Monitor programs continually to be able to
adjust them as needed
< Stern, 2009
Psychology of Sustainability
Guidelines for report PSY250:
Suggested Title:
Recommendations for improving sustainability on
the UoP campus: Focus on […]
Four aspects to cover:
1) Background: general background (what’s the
problem?); general environmental psychology
background - some prior theory and evidence
2) Applied to UoP, with evidence:
 a) Campus analysis
 b) observations
 c) user views
Psychology of Sustainability
Using the evidence to address the following :
 What’s the current state of sustainability on the UoP campus?
 Summarise what your data say
3) Recommendations
The recommendations should be based on 1) and 2) and
should consider these questions:
 Which aspects can be improved, and how? -> priority list
 How do you think could these improvements be implemented?
By whom, when? Show some understanding of feasibility
issues / practical application and cost
 How will the public react, can you make any predictions, e.g.,
based on your own research? Same for different users?
 What are the expected outcomes? Can you say something
about how the changes will lead to these outcomes?
Psychology of Sustainability
4) Critical evaluation (gaps, how good is the
evidence, what remains to be done, barriers…)
& Conclusion
 Your report should contain tables / pictures / lists to
illustrate (some of these could be in an Appendix).
 Finally it should be 10 -12 pages, Arial Pt 12,
double spaced (see general guidelines for layout &
references)
For a really good mark you need to provide evidence
of additional research (e.g., changes implemented
elsewhere, additional psychological research)