Implementing positive reinforcement.

Designers should provide immediate positive feedback in various formats to reinforce sustainable energy actions and boost intrinsic motivation.

About this paper

The author argues that existing energy feedback technologies are ineffective because they use a universal approach, failing to account for individual differences in attitudes and motivational stages.

They propose leveraging motivational psychology, specifically the Transtheoretical Model, to develop more personalized and effective strategies for promoting sustainable energy behaviors.

Here are some methods used in this study:

Transtheoretical Model Motivational Interviewing

Which part of the paper did the design guideline come from?

“‘Ubigreen’[24] (Figure 3, top right) employs these techniques. It is a mobile phone visualization that uses semi-automatic sensing technologies to provide feedback of transportation behaviors. It uses a series of emotionally persuasive icons [24] (i.e. a polar bear standing on an iceberg) as positive reinforcement. The more “green” one’s transportation behaviors, the further in the progression of icons one gets (i.e. the iceberg grows and the ecosystem improves) until one reaches the final stage (...)” (‘Positive Reinforcement, Emotional Persuasion (through the ELM) & Values’ section)

He, H. A., Greenberg, S., & Huang, E. M. (2010). One size does not fit all. Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.

Inspiration and scope

In this paper, the authors focused on designers of energy feedback technologies promoting sustainable actions through positive reinforcement.

You are designing a social media platform for retail investors in India, from novice to advanced levels. Your design context and the paper's context differ: the paper focuses on experts in a specific field, while you target diverse retail investors. At the same time, both require an educational component. The paper educates on sustainable practices, while your platform educates on investment strategies. Both need intuitive interfaces and clear communication of complex info.

Also, the primary goals differ: promoting sustainable actions for environmental benefits versus improving financial decision-making and user engagement. At the same time, both require user empowerment. Designers need tools to foster sustainable actions, while investors need features for informed decisions. Empowerment with knowledge and tools is crucial in both fields.

Leveraging these similarities, consider a social media platform that provides immediate, multifaceted feedback on investment decisions. This way, users get positive reinforcement for sound moves, boosting confidence, motivation, learning, and wise investing.

Your input

  • What: A social media platform tailored to the needs of a modern day retail investor in India.
  • Who: Novice and advanced retail investors
  • Design stage: Research, Ideation

Understanding users

The following user needs and pain points may apply to your design target as well:

Personalized Educational Tools

Creating personalized educational tools can help retail investors understand complex investment strategies more effectively. Interactive and tailored learning modules can enhance their comprehension and confidence, leading to informed financial decisions.

Empowerment Through Goal-Setting

Allow retail investors to set specific financial goals and monitor their progress. Goal-setting features, combined with actionable insights and reminders, can empower users to take proactive steps in their investment journey, enhancing their engagement and motivation.

Design ideas

Consider the following components for your design:

1

Incorporate dynamic visual feedback such as celebratory animations or graphical rewards when users make sound investment moves.

2

Use auditory cues like congratulatory sounds to provide immediate positive feedback on successful investment actions.

3

Implement social recognition features like badges, shout-outs, or mentions within the community for users who achieve investment milestones.

Methods for you

Consider the following method(s) used in this paper for your design work:

Transtheoretical Model (TTM)

Using the Transtheoretical Model can help tailor social media platform content to the varying readiness stages of retail investors, from awareness to continuous learning. Consider segmenting your messaging into different stages such as Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Preparation to maintain engagement and progression.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing can be adapted to engage retail investors personally, eliciting their motivations for investing and addressing their concerns. Ensure communications reflect empathy, respect, and support to build users' confidence and intrinsic motivation towards informed investment decisions.

[Table 2] From this figure, you can gain insights on motivational goals that can be applied to different stages of the user's journey on your social media platform.