Can't See the Wood for the Litter: Evaluation of Litter Behavior Modification in a Forest

Abstract

This study investigated elementary school children's (n = 171) litter behavior during guided forest tours following two different treatments. Four classes received a verbal appeal not to litter in the forest, while another four classes received both a verbal appeal and a demonstration of the desired litter behavior (picking up litter, putting it in a bag) by their guide. On each day of observation, litter (ten pieces) was deliberately planted at a picnic place and litter collection behavior of children monitored. A combination of verbal appeal and demonstration more positively influenced children's litter behavior than the appeal alone.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We like to thank all foresters and teachers for their cooperation, and the forest program organizers in Karlsruhe, Germany for their support.

Notes

Proenvironmental behavior can be defined as “behavior that consciously seeks to minimize the negative impact of one's actions on the natural and built world” (Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002, p. 240).

More information (in German) including pictures at http://www.waldpaedagogik-karlsruhe.de/index.html