Research

A process theory of norm information interventions

Abstract: Social norm interventions are a common strategy employed by those who want to reduce harmful behavior. In this paper, we utilize a query theory paradigm to investigate the cognitive mechanisms of norm information interventions. Across two studies (N = 878), we find evidence that query content and order mediate the effect of norm information interventions on policy support attitudes. In a real policy context, skepticism of the norm information prevents the intervention from affecting query contents. Norm information affects policy support through two, non-exclusive mechanisms— by directing attention to the normative outcome first and introducing new information.

Jordana W. Composto, Aya Salim, & Elke U. Weber (in prep)

A Meta-Analysis of Query Theory, a Psychological Process Account of Framing Effects

Abstract: Query Theory offers a psychological process theory of preference construction that shows how attentional processes and memory dynamics give rise to framing effects and other judgment and choice anomalies also modeled by Prospect Theory and its functional or “as-if” account. Since its introduction in 2007, a series of studies have examined Query Theory accounts of framing effects in risky choice, intertemporal choice, and multi-attribute decisions. The present review used meta-analytic techniques to evaluate the main claims of query theory by synthesizing findings from 27 papers. Across three meta-analyses, we find that (1) decision frame significantly affects query order (d = 0.34, CI95 = [0.27,0.41]), (2) query theory mechanisms (query order and content) partially mediate the effect of decision frame on choice, and (3) manipulating query order decreases the effect of decision frame on choice from d = 0.92 (CI95 = [0.74,1.09]) to d = 0.39 (CI95 = [0.25,0.53]).

Jordana W. Composto, Shannon M. Duncan, Eric J. Johnson, & Elke U. Weber (in prep)

Organizational Narratives about Climate Change Commitments

Abstract: Reaching global climate goals indisputably requires rapid and drastic change from the private sector. The last decade has seen an increase in the number of climate commitments (i.e., divesting from fossil fuels) from organizations. Across four studies, we investigate the features of these commitments and how they affect attitudes of employees and the general public. We conduct two conjoint experiments (Ntotal = 2,522) to examine preference for the type of information included in climate commitments and the features of the organization. Both employees and the general public prefer policies with specific information about cost/investment and specific information about timeline. This pattern holds for policy preference, trust the commitment will be met, perceived support from the American public, and perceived climate impact. Participants prefer commitments that are contextualized by the company’s track record on the environment compared to those with no information. and commitments from large organizations compared to medium sized organizations. There is also a strong preference for policies about investment in clean or renewable energy compared to commitments about divesting from fossil fuels. Across both studies, specific information about the time and cost/investment of the climate commitment are the most important attributes in determining policy preference. In the second pair of studies, we collect a corpus of real world climate commitments made by 114 major financial institutions (N = 732). In Study 3, we code the real climate commitments for the crucial features and find that 49.6% include monetary information, 46.8% include emissions information, and 26.4% include timeline information. Prior to 2021, monetary information is most commonly included in commitments but in 2021, emissions information is most common. In Study 4, we conduct a discourse analysis and find that the ‘energy transition’ is the most common topic, followed by ‘low carbon energy’.

Composto, J. W., & Constantino, S. M. (in prep). 

Timely information about Carbon Capture and Storage can increase willingness to accept the technology by changing perceived risks and benefits

Abstract: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has recently received increased attention and investment for its potential role in the United States' efforts to meet net-zero targets. However, the public has very little awareness of CCS and its risks and benefits. Prior work suggests this leads to low public acceptance and that greater familiarity should breed a greater liking and reduced perceptions of risk; we offer the first piece of causal evidence of this relationship. In three experiments (n total = 5,500), we measure the effect of an informational intervention on perceived risks, perceived benefits, and acceptance of CCS projects. Our results suggest that well-timed information (e.g., prior to a siting decision) may improve public knowledge, especially of risks and benefits, to empower more informed decisions and attitudes about CCS. Early and ongoing engagement and information sharing can establish and maintain trust in the technology and associated stakeholders.

Composto, J. W., Greig, C., & Weber, E. W., Timely information about Carbon Capture and Storage can increase willingness to accept the technology by changing perceived risks and benefits (July 31, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4911410

Changing Norms of Trust

Abstract: Trust strengthens people's confidence in a stable society and their willingness to perform prosocial behaviors, such as getting vaccinated or protecting a livable climate and environment. This review proposes a framework of how norms of trust change during times of uncertainty and collective threat. Norms of trust influence expectations toward another's actual or acceptable behavior in interdependent contexts and thus inform an individual's level of trust. These expectations are based on experienced behavior, norm-based beliefs about the counterparty, and/or projections about what oneself would do in a given situation. A match or mismatch between expectations and the experienced behavior of others (both individuals and institutions) during interactions in new environments either affirm or weaken norms of trust.

Composto, J. W., Bielig, M., Bruns, C., & Weber, E. W., (2024) Changing Norms of Trust. Current Opinions in Psychology. Forthcoming.

Pre-print: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4923239

From Ambition to Reality: Net Zero at the Speed of Trust

https://www.worley.com/en/insights/our-thinking/energy-transition/from-ambition-to-reality

Virtuous cycles of organizational climate action: A multi-level view of pro-environmental behavior in the workplace

Abstract: Addressing the global climate crisis requires expansive behavior change across domains. Behavioral science research has focused disproportionately on changing individual behavior in the home and as a consumer. This review focuses on individual behavior change in an organizational context (i.e., in the workplace) and the virtuous cycles that can emerge. By reviewing the recent literature on this topic, this review offers a multi-level framework that integrates individual, social, and organizational factors that shape pro-environmental behavior in the workplace. The literature has focused on the discrete effects of the individual, social, and organizational factors on behavior and this review summarizes the main findings at each level. The review underscores the potential of organizational culture, including green human resource management and leadership, to foster systemic change. There is a paucity of research on the inter-level dynamics and the collective and temporal dynamics in this area. Future research is called upon to further develop and refine behavioral measurement tools in the organizational context. 

Composto, J. W. (2024). Virtuous cycles of organizational climate action: A multi-level view of pro-environmental behavior in the workplace. Current Opinions in Behavioral Science. Forthcoming.

Predictors and consequences of pro-environmental behavior at work

Abstract: Increasingly, people are looking for meaning through their jobs, for employers that have a positive impact on the world, and for workplaces that promote mission-driven behavior. One such mission that is a growing priority is addressing climate change, especially for younger cohorts entering the workforce. Addressing the climate crisis will necessitate substantial changes at all levels of society, including organizational change. This paper examines individual, social, and contextual variables that are associated with pro-environmental behavior (PEB). In a large survey of employees from high and low greenhouse gas emitting sectors (N = 3,041), we examine the predictors of work PEB and the relationship between work PEB and job satisfaction. We find that the strongest predictors of work PEB index are similar behavior in another domain (measured as home PEB index), perceived organizational support for the environment, personal attitudes about environmental responsibility, reported identity overlap with coworkers, and level of education. Perceptions about the social and corporate support of an environmental mission predict work PEB even after accounting for the influence of individual factors, including environmental attitudes, suggesting that they are associated with increased work PEB for employees with both high and low concern about climate change. We also find that higher work PEB is associated with greater job satisfaction. This suggests that there may be a virtuous cycle between companies’ mission-driven actions and policies and employee perceptions, behavior, and personal and corporate well-being, with potential implications for employee engagement and retention.

Composto, J. W., Constantino, S. M., & Weber, E. U. (2023). Predictors and consequences of pro-environmental behavior at work. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4, 100107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100107

Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce household energy demand: a scoping review

Abstract: This paper provides a scoping review of behavioural interventions that target household energy demand. We evaluate 584 empirical papers that test the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention to change behaviour associated with household energy demand. The most studied behavioural tools are providing timely feedback and reminders and making information intuitive and easy to access, followed by (in order) communicating a norm, reframing consequences, making behaviour observable, obtaining a commitment, setting proper defaults, and transitions and habit disruption. The most studied demand-side behaviour is electricity use. There is high heterogeneity in effect sizes. We classified the target behaviours of each study as avoid, shift, or improve behaviours and find that avoid behaviours (in particular, reducing electricity usage) are the predominant focus of researchers. The effectiveness of interventions differs across avoid, shift, and improve responses and by the behavioural tool. Specifically, shifting behaviours are less effectively motivated than avoiding behaviours by using an information intervention but more effectively by using a norm intervention. We review the literature to provide further information about which behavioural tools are most effective for specific contexts. The effectiveness of most behavioural tools are augmented when they are used in the right combination with other tools. We recommend that researchers focus future work on high impact behaviours and the evaluation of synergistic combinations of behavioural interventions.

Composto, J. W., & Weber, E. U. (2022). Effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce household energy demand: A scoping review. Environmental Research Letters, 17(6), 063005. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac71b8

This work was also featured in IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, the Working Group III; Chapter 5: Demand, Services and Social Aspects of Mitigation.