Holwerda, Arina (2024) Laypeople versus Researchers: An Exploration of Mental Models of Energy Saving Behaviour. Research Master thesis, Research Master.
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Abstract
Current interventions targeting household energy use are largely ineffective. One explanation might be the focus on top-down approach within research and intervention design. Mental models provide a way to integrate top-down and bottom-up research approaches to create more complete and effective theories and interventions. This study investigates mental models of Dutch laypeople (N = 101) to explore which factors they consider important for their own energy saving behaviour. Patterns and important factors within the mental models, as well as the influence of attribution bias on the mental models, were investigated. The findings show that participants’ mental models differ from theoretical models used in environmental psychology. Participants consider both internal and external factors to be strong and direct drivers of their energy saving behaviour. Moreover, attribution bias did not seem to influence participants’ mental models. These findings suggest that bottom-up research should be integrated into current theory creation and intervention design.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Research Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Bouman, T. |
| Degree programme: | Research Master |
| Differentiation route: | Sustainability in a Changing Society [Research Master] |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Aug 2024 09:46 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Aug 2024 09:46 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4286 |
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