Tomorrow's talk: Beyond the Campaign: Analyzing factors that influence the persistence of behaviour change strategies

[Elizabeth Patitsas]

Hi folks,

Tomorrow's talk will be on "Beyond the Campaign: Analyzing factors
that influence the persistence of behaviour change strategies", from
Beth Savan and Zannah Matson from the U of T Sustainability Office.

Abstract: There is an extensive literature documenting successful
behaviour change strategies that reduce resource consumption and
associated emissions through community or institutional level
approaches. Often the efficacy of these programs is measured either
during or shortly after interventions take place and the persistence
of the initial changes over the longer term is unknown. In an
examination of recent University of Toronto Sustainability Office
behaviour change programs, results were measured both during and
following completion of interventions. These studies found varying
outcomes with regards to the persistence of resource and emission
reduction behaviours. This presentation will document these campaigns
and the strategies that appear to lead to these variations in long-
term success. Factors including the impact of strong and supportive
social networks will be examined though these case studies. This
examination will be placed in the broader context of the somewhat-
limited persistence literature to explore the contributors to long
term changes in behaviour that lead to permanent reductions in
resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The authors will
suggest that enduring and meaningful behaviour changes are those that
encourage persistence through time and proliferation across a number
of lifestyle elements to magnify the impact of one-time interventions.

As usual, the talk will be in BA 1220 at 3PM.

Cheers,
Elizabeth