Exploring differences in methods of self-reporting data for increased engagement in litter picking

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare and present differences between two methods of self-reporting data in the use-case of litter picking, how they affect the potential of engagement in the activity of picking- and reporting litter and if they can be beneficial for behaviour change. The first being a virtual button in the user interface of a mobile phone application and the other being a physical Bluetooth button called Flic connected to the application. By recruiting ten students, the participants used the application along with both methods to report litter picks over two weeks. Using semi-structured interviews with the participants and collecting data on their picking behaviour, with the help of a thematic analysis, resulted in a few themes that were recurring experiences expressed by the users: Benefits and weaknesses, Preference, Engagement, Future usage and Social aspect. Subjective- and objective measures of engagement are also presented based on the responses from the interviews and data regarding specific picking behaviour. The results indicate a preference for Flic and it was also perceived as the method that could provide the highest engagement. The biggest reported differences between them were the aspect of tangibility and simplicity of Flic and the accessibility with using UI-reporting. Even if Flic was the preferred method, weaknesses regarding losing it or obtaining one indicates it would not work as a stand-alone solution in the case of litter picking. A combination would therefore be the optimal solution.