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Publication
Reducing children’s psychological distance from climate change via eco-feedback technologies
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Empirical environment and behavior research has found that empathy improves environmental attitudes
and behaviors. Emotionally persuasive icons (EPIs) show promise for creating empathy and for the design
of effective eco-feedback technologies, particularly among children. Yet studies using these icons have
focused on adults, with little research devoted to eco-feedback design for children. We explore the
affective reactions to EPIs among children ages 9–11. To understand which types of EPIs generate the
most empathy, we vary them in two dimensions: (1) metaphorical versus literal representations and (2)
animal scenes versus environmental scenes. Our findings suggest that the impact of EPIs extends beyond
metaphorical or literal images; to improve eco-feedback technologies that employ EPIs, designers must
link the causes and effects of climate change to concrete, tangible actions that are associated with personal
experiences, which could lead to stronger engagement and emotional responses among children. These
results are consistent with the construal level theory of psychological distance, which is the cognitive
and affective perception of how close or far something is. We extend this theory to sustainable HCI and
contribute a space for future eco-feedback design among children.
Description
Keywords
Eco-feedback Children Sustainability Psychological distance . Escola Superior de Tecnologias e Gestão
Citation
Dillahunt, T., Lyra, O., Barreto, M. L., & Karapanos, E. (2017). Reducing children’s psychological distance from climate change via eco-feedback technologies. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 13, 19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcci.2017.05.002 2212-8689
Publisher
Elsevier