Using behaviour science to enrich development: understanding attitudes related to behavioural change and environmental management in low-resource communities

ABSTRACT

Low-resource communities that rely on the environment face challenges in the forms of climate change and the overuse of natural resources. Behaviour science offers methods and strategies to mitigate behaviours that contribute to environmental degradation, as well as promote the adoption of desirable behaviours. We investigated the attitudes and beliefs of vulnerable communities. We conducted surveys across five villages on Selayar Island, a small island in Sulawesi Indonesia. Our results suggest a willingness to participate in behaviour-based programs and concern for families. When offering development programs to communities, the needs of the community should inform the design and implementation process.

KEYWORDS:

• Aid effectiveness
• capacity development
• participation
• environment
• health
• South Asia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Capturing Coral Reefs and Related Ecosystem Services team for their contributions to both personnel and funding for this work. Specifically, Siham Afatta and Novie Sentianto for adding our survey component to their existing focus groups, facilitating distribution and collection of the survey, and transiting the survey results back to Australia. The authors would also like to thank Margaret Crane for her initial efforts drafting the survey inventory and feedback on early versions of the draft.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Capturing Coral Reefs and Ecosystem Services Project, a joint collaboration funded by the University of Queensland, the World Bank (WB Project ID: P123933), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF Project ID: 4690). We have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Notes on contributors

Erik Simmons

Erik Simmons, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Future Environments at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His research explores the interdisciplinary nexus of behavioural sciences and health, technology, design, and the environment. He has formerly held lead research roles on international World Bank projects.

John Pickering

John Pickering, PhD, is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Evidn and has extensive experience in the management and delivery of large-scale behaviour change programs. He holds an appointment at The University of Queensland Business School.

Matthew Sanders

Matthew Sanders, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland. He is the founder of the Triple P–Positive Parenting Program. Professor Sanders is considered a world leader in the development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of population-based approaches to parenting and family interventions.