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Cited by 51Safety Warnings and SignageBehavioral Health and InterventionsSemiotics and Representation Studies

Signage as a tool for behavioral change: Direct and indirect routes to understanding the meaning of a sign

Open access
Meis, Julia, Kashima, Yoshihisa·2017·PLOS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0182975PMC PMC5576639
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Abstract

Signs, prompts, and symbols are a common means to change behavior in our society. Understanding the psychological mechanisms by which signage influences behavior is a critical first step to achieve the desired outcome. In the current research, we propose a theoretical model of sign-to-behavior process. The model suggests that when one encounters a sign, it is encoded to construct an action representation (comprehension process), which is then acted on unless its enactment is inhibited (decision process). We test the implications of the model in two studies. In support of our hypothesis, for unfamiliar signs, clarity of purpose predicts perceived effectiveness of a sign; however, for familiar signs, clarity of purpose does not matter. Insights gained from the studies will help to design effective signs. Practical implications of the model are discussed, and future research directions are outlined.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Meis, J., & Kashima, Y.
Affiliations
The University of Melbourne (AU)
ORCID
Venue
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2017-08-30
Volume
12
Issue
8
Pages
e0182975
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0182975
PMC
PMC5576639
OpenAlex
W2751392054
Cited by
51
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2
FWCI
6.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Safety Warnings and Signage
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Semiotics and Representation Studies
Keywords
signage, behavior change, sign comprehension, action representation, signage design
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Decision Making, Decision Support Techniques, Female, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Location Directories and Signs, Male, Middle Aged, Recognition, Psychology, Comprehension

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