Behavioural interventions influenced students’ and staff’s behaviour – but only in the short term

Can simple visual cues influence our everyday decisions? At the Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University, we explored whether motivational posters and stickers could encourage students and staff to choose the stairs more often instead of the elevator.

An eight-week observation using motion sensors and elevator electricity consumption data, complemented by a questionnaire survey, revealed an interesting trend: after the visual interventions were installed, the number of people opting for the stairs increased slightly – particularly in the first few weeks. However, over time, the effect faded and people gradually returned to their original habits.

Curiously, most respondents in the survey stated that they hardly noticed the posters and stickers or did not perceive them as a reason for changing their behaviour. The results suggest that the responses may have been largely subconscious and that, while visual prompts can influence our decision-making in the short term, long-term change likely requires deeper motivation – or perhaps a different approach altogether.

The survey also provided insights into preferences regarding the types of interventions. Health and time-related benefits were rated as the most important, while potential cost savings on elevator use were seen as the least relevant. Finally, open-ended responses offered several suggestions for future interventions – such as making them more aesthetically appealing or avoiding a preachy tone.