A meta-analysis of field-experiments using social norms to promote pro-environmental behaviors. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bergquist, Magnus; Nilsson, Andreas; Schultz, Wesley P.
• Is Part Of: Global environmental change. Volume 59(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Écologie humaine -- Périodiques; Homme -- Influence sur la nature -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Human ecology; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.101941
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3780

Abstract

Highlights: We conducted a meta-analysis on field-experiments using social norms to encourage pro-environmental behaviors. Results of 91 field-experiments (N = 227′730) revealed a positive main effect of social norms on pro-environmental behaviors compared to no-treatment control conditions. Moderation analysis found that social norms induced implicitly were more influential than social norms induced explicitly and that social norms tended to be more influential in individualistic countries than in collectivistic countries.