According to the research study done by Katzev -- “The Impact of Commitment in Promoting Consumer Energy Conservation”, which examines various methods to change subjects environmental-friendly behavior, there is a huge amount of increase in following their own words when the subjects are being asked to write down their commitments and sign. Therefore, by implementing these methods (with help from other strategies), students conservation behavior hopefully will be changed.
1. Having Students sign commitment at the beginning of the year.
According to Katzev(1986), a research was conducted on bus riders for two treatment groups: one is rewarded with unlimited free bus tickets, and the other is asked to write a non-bonding commitment in riding buses. The result of the two treatment groups comparing to the control group showed a significant increase in bus ridership.
Therefore, by implementing commitment, we will expect to see a change in the effectiveness of move-out waste recycling. At the beginning of the year, students will be asked to sign a commitment that they will recycle or resell everything that they move in with.
2. Publicly display the names of people who signed the commitment.
A study was conducted by Prashanth Nyer and Stephanie Dellande on the effect of public commitment on weight loss progress. The subjects of the study are females who are part of a weight loss camp. All of the treatment group subjects must post their goal and their name on a bulletin board in the hallway. The result shows a significant increase in effectiveness of the weight loss program.
In order to better the recycling program, we can use this method. Those who committed to recycling at the end of the year will have their names posted on bullitin boards in order for public commitment to affect the effectiveness.
3. Remind students commitment to recycle throughout the year.
Katzev emphasizes the importance to constantly remind subjects in order to strengthen the effect of commitment. After signing commitment, the subjects are exposed to several reminders throughout the process. The subjects that went through reminding and reinforcing have a better chance in complying with conservation behaviors. Emails should be sent out periodically at the end of the school year in order to remind people for signing the commitment and comply with it.
(Source: http://www.uccs.edu/~sustain/)
References:
Katzev, R. (1986). The Impact of Commitment in Promoting Consumer Energy Conservation. Consumer Behavior and Energy Policy, 280–294. Retrieved from https://ctools.umich.edu/access/content/group/6a5118dd-a94b-4b54-b8b5-c8...
Nyer, P., Dellande S. (2010). Public Commitment as a Motivator for Weight Loss. Psychology & Marketing. Retrieved from http://www.lib.umich.edu/articles/details/FETCH-LOGICAL-c1211-8652a77394f9147d07bd46f86a91230a1f133e545b85d1f96b1abb1e9110b70e3