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Project Code [2020-SE-DS-24]
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Project title
A diagnostic experiment and randomised controlled trail to test ways to improve waste management
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI)
Lead Applicant
Anne Nolan
Project Abstract
The EPA has identified that 20% of material in household recycling bins cannot be recycled, reducing the quality and value of the household process. The ESRI's BRU have considered the potential to apply methods from behavioural-science to identify reasons underlying the cross contamination of waste and test interventions to improve waste management. We have extensive experience using educational psychology to assess comprehension and have approaches to reduce social desirability bias in survey responses (i.e. changes to responses in order to paint the participant in a better light) that could be employed to first understand the underlying behavioural problem (e.g. lack of understanding, inattention, desire to avoid charges). Findings from this stage could then be used to inform the design of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test ways to address these issues, with change in percentage of incorrect material in recycled bins taken as the primary outcome variable.
The development of the online experiment would benefit from an initial analysis of existing communication and the EPA's waste characterisation research. The plan would be to conduct an experiment online with a large, representative sample of the target population (c. 500-1,000. The RCT would be informed by the findings from this experiment.
Research Hub
Sustainability
Research Theme
Socio-Economic Considerations
Initial Projected Completion Date
30/06/2022