PSY 3456 Final Exam Flashcards
air pollution
the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole
noise
unwanted sound, perceived as an environmental stressor and nuisance
health effects of noise
- sleep disturbances
- increase in blood pressure
- increase in heart rate
how did Meyers and Ferrari decrease noise in university residence halls (air nose and light pollution) ?
through the use of instructions, modeling, feedback and group reinforcement
benefits of the reduction of noise in residents halls in the Meyers and Ferrari study
less disturbance of sleep and study
how did Ferrari and Chan reduce the volume of headphones?
the use of warning signs and a confederate student lowering their headphone volume following a polite request
how did Wilson and Hopkins reduce the noise levels in 7th and 8th grade classrooms?
the use of an automated system that turned off music when noise level exceeded a reasonable level
some of the health problems associated with light pollution
problems with sleep and increased stress
five ways to reduce light pollution
- aim light below the horizontal
- avoid over-lighting
- use reflective lane markings and reflective clothing
- smart lighting that switches on with you
- avoiding full daylight bulbs with a high blue content
why most people are not aware of air quality levels
air pollution is often imperceptible, and even when it is noticeable people’s perceptions can often be inaccurate
pros and cons for wind energy
- wind energy is a clean source, but wind farms can pose a threat for birds and bats
- they also provide intermittent power output
pros and cons for solar energy
solar energy is clean but solar farms can lead to habitat loss and only provide intermittent power output
trends in energy use
- increase in natural gas and renewable energy, a decrease in coal and stable use of petroleum and nuclear
how large is the renewable energy segment and types of renewable energy
- 11%
- hydroelectric, wind, solar, biofuels, woods, biomass waste and geothermal
largest segment of energy use
transportation
how did researchers in the Winett study confirm the people watched the program?
- they verified watching the program by telling people viewing the program to check a point in the evaluation when filling out the form
how did Winett et. al. use television modeling to reduce residential heating and AC energy use?
- they had them watch a program that discussed the motivating operations for saving energy and modeled ways to save energy
- also gave them a 10-page booklet with tips to save energy
three factors that influence the efficacy of modeling (energy and conservation)
- vide models work as well as in-person models
- a model judged as similar to you works better than one very dissimilar
- a model you admire is more effective than a neutral model
incentives in Bekker study (energy & conservatio)
- depending on the savings, they could earn free coffee, a movie night, free ice cream, or a pizza party at a higher level
how did Bekker et. al. reduce energy use in a residential hall?
- using prompts and daily feedback and a reward for electricity savings
- they also put up smaller signs on tips to save energy near driers, TVs, light switches, and computers
type of prompt used by Luyben to get people to turn off lights when the room was not in use
- a single letter prompt asking faculty to turn off the lights
- in one group, a bright yellow poster was placed next to each light switch and/or exit door in the classroom urging classroom users to turn out the lights after specified class periods were added
Hayes & Cone use of a practical method to decrease residential energy use
monthly letter with power bill showing energy use an actual dollar amounts saved
how did Staats et. al. change thermostat settings in a large office building?
- a brochure and feedback to request people to uncover all grates and to adjust all thermostats to identical settings in order to reduce natural gas consumption
how did Kohlenberg reduce peak energy use
- using information, feedback, and incentives
- they found a combination of feedback and incentives to be most effective
pros and cons for uranium based nuclear energy
carbon-free and a reliable source of power, but the potential for radiation leaks and plant meltdowns are a major concern
pros and cons for thorium based nuclear energy
thorium reactors can be easily stopped and cannot meltdown
- they do not operate under extreme pressure and produce less waste
how did Van Houten et. al. reduce elevator use?
by increasing the door delay, increasing the wait time for an elevator
three compatible solutions to clean and dependable energy
- use of diverse clean sources that fit each ecological location (technology)
- reduce overall energy use (change behavior)
- balance energy use with recycling
traffic calming
refers to changes in road design that reduce speeding
results of the Reagan et. al. study (transportation)
incentives of $20/ week that could be earned for not speeding were effective in reducing speeding
in the Van Houten and Nau study comparing the feedback sign with police enforcement, which treatment was more effective?
public posting was four times as cost effective than the police enforcement