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Journal of the Australian Rangeland Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Using behavioural science to improve Australia’s environmental regulation

Paul Martin A B and Donald W. Hine A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: pmartin9@une.edu.au

The Rangeland Journal 39(6) 551-561 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ17105
Submitted: 12 October 2017  Accepted: 30 November 2017   Published: 9 January 2018

Journal compilation © Australian Rangeland Society 2017 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Australia has many environmental regulations intended to alter the behaviour of rural landholders. One key issue relates to managing invasive plants and animals, where effective action requires sustained (and largely voluntary) action and sustained investment. Eliciting high levels of compliance is a difficult problem, because different landholders have widely different attitudes and motivations. What works with one group of people may not work with another, and indeed may be counterproductive.

This study demonstrates the use of contemporary psychological methods to identify groups of landholders who demonstrate different attitudes and behaviours in relation to weed control. It shows that identifiable segments do respond differently to different mixes of regulation, incentives and community action. It suggests that some commonly promoted interventions may actually be counterproductive in encouraging desirable action with some groups.

The study shows that behavioural precision is important in creating effective compliance strategies in weeds management, and it demonstrates some of the methods that may be used to achieve that precision.

Additional keywords: behaviour change, compliance, gamification, invasive species, psychology, regulation, segmentation, weeds management.


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