Basic approaches to studying energy-related behavioural change

2. Basic approaches to studying energy-related behavioural change This chapter summarises three major approachs to studying energy-related behavioural change: economics, psychology and social psychology and sociology, including the sociology of technology. The boundaries between these disciplines are not clear-cut. Moreover, there is not room to give a comprehensive presentation of all research and the various approaches that exist within these disciplines. The focus is on research that is relevant for energy efficiency and the design and evaluation of DSM programmes. The purpose of this chapter is to identify the main ‘lessons ’ for energy DSM programme design that can be drawn from these research approaches, and understand how the assumptions underlying the approaches influence the kinds of ‘lessons ’ produced. The starting point is that all these disciplines have valuable contributions to the design and evaluation of DSM programmes. Yet each discipline examines energy issues from a partial perspective, whereas the reality of energy use and DSM practice cuts across the disciplinary boundaries. Table 1 provides an overview of the issues discussed for each discipline in the following sections. Also some specific issues for each discipline are discussed. Table 1. Key questions and a summary of the perspectives of each discipline (with reference to ‘the mainstream ’ within each discipline). Economics Psychological and social psychological research Sociological and sociotechnical research 1. What are the key units of analysis in energy-related behavioural change