Litter-Dropping Social Norm Study

Researchers investigated how social norms regarding litter disposal are enforced in different outdoor environments. They aimed to observe how individuals respond to a confederate violating a social norm (intentionally dropping a plastic bottle on the grass) in two different urban green spaces.

Two study locations were selected:

• Greenwich Public Park: A vast, highly anonymous central-city public park.
• St. Jude's Community Garden: A smaller, highly integrated neighborhood community garden where locals know one another well.

Two environmental cue conditions were investigated:

• Ordered: Impeccably clean grass with prominent, tidy recycling bins visible.
• Disordered: Scattered litter already on the ground, overflowing bins, and general untidiness.

In all sessions, a confederate walked past a seated participant and dropped a plastic bottle directly on the grass. The confederate continued walking without looking back.

Observers recorded the primary reaction of the nearby participant:

• Direct sanction: Verbally confronting the confederate (e.g., telling them to pick it up).
• Indirect reaction: Picking up the litter themselves after the confederate left.
• No reaction: Ignoring the behavior entirely.

Table: Percentage of participant reactions by location and cue conditions

• Greenwich Public Park: Direct sanction = 5%, Indirect reaction = 12%, No reaction = 83%
• St. Jude's Community Garden: Direct sanction = 25%, Indirect reaction = 35%, No reaction = 40%
• Ordered Environment: Direct sanction = 22%, Indirect reaction = 28%, No reaction = 50%
• Disordered Environment: Direct sanction = 8%, Indirect reaction = 19%, No reaction = 73%