Application of behavioral science and nudging in public areas: a field study on the reduction of vandalism in elevators

• Autor(a) principal: Feick, Alexia Lavinia
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/138958
• topic: Decision making; Public policy; Behavioral science; Nudging; Vandalism; Visual stimuli; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão

The purpose of this study was to find out whether a reduction of vandalism in elevators can be achieved by applying visual stimuli as part of a nudging approach. In the course of an experimental field study, three different nudging concepts as well as a control group were observed in 120 social housing elevators in Lisbon. The study then assessed whether and to what degree the occurrence of vandalism in these elevators had changed at two different temporal measurement points. The results do not indicate a significant reduction of vandalism as a result of the nudges. However, it can be concluded that visual stimuli nudges should be developed according to the situation and the target group as well as validated in the course of a long-term field study. Nevertheless, the findings of this study once again demonstrate that nudges indeed represent a promising and cost-effective alternative to hard regulations in combating vandalism in public areas.