There’s a Monster in There’s a Monster in my Kitchen: Using my Kitchen: Using

Aversive Feedback to Aversive Feedback to Motivate Behaviour Motivate Behaviour

ChangeChange

Ben Kirman, Conor Linehan, Shaun Ben Kirman, Conor Linehan, Shaun Lawson, Derek Foster, Mark DoughtyLawson, Derek Foster, Mark DoughtyLincoln Social Computing Research Centre Lincoln Social Computing Research Centre

(LiSC)(LiSC)

The Weather is pants

Stuff happened in Pakistan

Does my bum look big in this?

Why doesn’t someone tell ME the weather for a change?!

IntroductionIntroduction

In designing technology to change the behaviour In designing technology to change the behaviour users, it is useful to consult the science of users, it is useful to consult the science of behaviour.behaviour.

FeedbackFeedback = Basic behavioural processes = Basic behavioural processes An example application - train users to adopt An example application - train users to adopt

more environmentally friendly behaviours in their more environmentally friendly behaviours in their domestic kitchens.domestic kitchens.

FeedbackFeedback

Persuasive technologiesPersuasive technologies– Measure user behaviourMeasure user behaviour– Provide feedbackProvide feedback– In order to change behaviourIn order to change behaviour

But how do we provide feedback?But how do we provide feedback?– What type of feedback?What type of feedback?– When/how often?When/how often?

Behavioural psychology has spent 80 years Behavioural psychology has spent 80 years investigating this!investigating this!

FeedbackFeedback

Most persuasive applications aim to effect Most persuasive applications aim to effect behaviour change simply through offering simple behaviour change simply through offering simple rewards to users.rewards to users.

If only rewards are offered - what happens when If only rewards are offered - what happens when a reward is not obtained?a reward is not obtained?

Behavioural psychology – behaviour is learned Behavioural psychology – behaviour is learned not only through rewards, but through the not only through rewards, but through the consequences that occur when we don’t reach consequences that occur when we don’t reach rewards.rewards.

AversiveAversive consequences consequences

FeedbackFeedback

Games are a perfect example of how technology Games are a perfect example of how technology can exploit a combination of appetitive and can exploit a combination of appetitive and aversive consequences in order to maintain the aversive consequences in order to maintain the motivation and engagement of users.motivation and engagement of users.

Persuasive technology would benefit from Persuasive technology would benefit from similarly similarly consistentconsistent feedback, whether the user feedback, whether the user reaches behavioural goals or notreaches behavioural goals or not

Nag Baz TagNag Baz Tag

Nag Baz tagNag Baz tag

Kitchens - resource hungry - using large Kitchens - resource hungry - using large amounts of power, gas and water. amounts of power, gas and water.

The application is able to monitor power usage The application is able to monitor power usage on a per-appliance basis, and able to track water on a per-appliance basis, and able to track water and gas usage through networked metering and gas usage through networked metering devices. devices.

FeedbackFeedback is given through the unique is given through the unique personality of the Rabbitpersonality of the Rabbit

Motivating Behaviour Motivating Behaviour ChangeChange

There are some basic methods of shaping There are some basic methods of shaping behaviourbehaviour

Positive ReinforcementPositive Reinforcement People will work to obtain an appetitive stimulusPeople will work to obtain an appetitive stimulus Detect that target was reached:Detect that target was reached:

– Praise, or a virtual “gold star”, Praise, or a virtual “gold star”, – Representation of money saved so far.Representation of money saved so far.

You’ve saved so much money this week you can buy me a new hat.

You’ve saved 5p on electricity today. We’re 5p closer to Vegas

Motivating Behaviour Motivating Behaviour ChangeChange

Negative reinforcementNegative reinforcement People will work to avoid an ongoing aversive People will work to avoid an ongoing aversive

stimulus. stimulus. Detect that target was not reached:Detect that target was not reached:

– constant naggingconstant nagging by the Nabaztag device by the Nabaztag device over the amount of energy and water being over the amount of energy and water being used. used.

Don’t use so much water. It doesn’t grow on trees!

If you keep leaving the heat on we won’t be able to afford a f**king holiday!

Motivating Behaviour Motivating Behaviour ChangeChange

Punishment Punishment People will stop doing something to avoid People will stop doing something to avoid

aversive stimulusaversive stimulus Detect a big mess-up:Detect a big mess-up:

– A long nagging session A long nagging session – Constant reminders while at work via email, Constant reminders while at work via email,

SMS messages, Twitter and Facebook SMS messages, Twitter and Facebook – Ultimatums – “Ultimatums – “If you don’t come home IN THE If you don’t come home IN THE

NEXT HOUR and turn the tap off, there will be NEXT HOUR and turn the tap off, there will be consequences!”consequences!”

Re-capRe-cap

Consistency in feedback is the keyConsistency in feedback is the key

Reach target – praiseReach target – praise Don’t reach target – ongoing naggingDon’t reach target – ongoing nagging Really mess up – punishmentReally mess up – punishment

Designing devices/applications in this way Designing devices/applications in this way should lead to consistent successshould lead to consistent success

ConclusionsConclusions

Nag-baztag - a case study to illustrate how the Nag-baztag - a case study to illustrate how the psychological concepts of operant conditioning psychological concepts of operant conditioning can be easily applied in the field of HCI can be easily applied in the field of HCI applications.applications.

The field of persuasive technologies need not be The field of persuasive technologies need not be a “research island.” a “research island.”