Seeding Social Norms About Energy Conservation Among Girl Scouts

Abstract

Three studies examined whether a social norm message (SNM) to Girl Scouts who had completed an energy conservation program would impact behavior and attitudes. Studies 1 and 2 were conducted with girls recently completing the program, study 3 was conducted with girls completing the program one year earlier. Results suggest that the SNM may impact postprogram energy conservation for participants already dedicated to conservation (study 1), but only when introduced soon after the program ends (study 3). While outcomes are suggestive, this is the first study we know of regarding the impact of SNM on adolescents’ energy conservation.

Notes

All of these troops were also participating in a separate evaluation study of the GECCo patch.

One question was excluded from the analysis altogether because several girls did not provide a response. Two participants answered five of the six remaining conservation questions at T1, and one participant answered five of six at T2, so their responses are averaged out of 5 not 6. Two additional participants who failed to provide answers for two or more questions were excluded from the analysis.