Abstract

Recently, using design to change user behavior for the purpose of sustainability has gained considerable interest. One of the essential aspects of design for behavior change is to choose the right design intervention strategy for the right behaviors and for the right individuals. In this respect, consideration of different user characteristics when designing for behavior change is critical to ensure positive behavior change. This paper argues that user diversity can be addressed by grouping users with similar characteristics into different user types. It provides a framework and a methodology to create these user types based on psychological variables including global environmental attitude, attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention and finally personality traits. It discusses how the framework and the methodology could be integrated into design process, and illustrates the process by using hypothetical user types. The aim of this illustration is to clarify the predicted outcome of the methodology. As a result, four main user types are proposed: irresponsible users, undecided users, worried users and lastly enthusiastic users. Design intervention strategies are matched with these user types and the paper concludes with a brief discussion on the implications of the framework and methodology for design for pro-environmental behavior change.

Keywords

Design for behavior change, user types, pro-environmental behavior

Share

COinS
 
Jun 16th, 12:00 AM

User diversity in design for behavior change

Recently, using design to change user behavior for the purpose of sustainability has gained considerable interest. One of the essential aspects of design for behavior change is to choose the right design intervention strategy for the right behaviors and for the right individuals. In this respect, consideration of different user characteristics when designing for behavior change is critical to ensure positive behavior change. This paper argues that user diversity can be addressed by grouping users with similar characteristics into different user types. It provides a framework and a methodology to create these user types based on psychological variables including global environmental attitude, attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention and finally personality traits. It discusses how the framework and the methodology could be integrated into design process, and illustrates the process by using hypothetical user types. The aim of this illustration is to clarify the predicted outcome of the methodology. As a result, four main user types are proposed: irresponsible users, undecided users, worried users and lastly enthusiastic users. Design intervention strategies are matched with these user types and the paper concludes with a brief discussion on the implications of the framework and methodology for design for pro-environmental behavior change.

 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.