Prompts and Posted Feedback: In Search of an Effective Method of Litter Control

Abstract

This study compared the effectiveness of prompts (signs) and posted feedback as litter control strategies in two university cafeterias. Patronage and litter rates were monitored daily throughout the second term of the academic year. Prompts, prompts and posted feedback, and posted feedback were presented sequentially within a multiple baseline across settings experimental design. While litter rates initially declined in the presence of prompts, the addition of posted feedback did not have an additive effect; however, subsequent removal of prompts produced further reductions in litter rates, which were still evident during follow-up 5 weeks later. Results suggest that posted feedback is an effective and inexpensive method of Utter control.