Behavioral compliance with warnings: effects of voice, context, and location

Abstract

This research examined the effects of several warning sign variables on compliance behavior. Participants followed a set of printed instructions to perform a chemistry task that involved measuring and mixing disguised (nonhazardous) chemicals. Whether or not participants wore protective equipment as directed by the warning was measured. The environment around the sign was either visually cluttered or uncluttered. In some conditions, pictorials, a voice warning, and/or a flashing strobe light were added. The results showed that compliance was significantly greater when the warning was presented in an uncluttered environment compared to a cluttered environment. The presence of a voice warning produced a strong and reliable increase in compliance compared to conditions without a voice warning. No statistically reliable effects of pictorials or strobe were found though the results did show a trend of greater compliance when they were present. In addition, compliance was positively related to memory of the warning, perception of hazard, and reported carefulness. Experiments 2 and 3 directly compared the effect of a postedsign warning and a within-instructions warning. Results showed that a warning embedded in a set of task instructions produced significantly greater compliance than a similar, larger warning posted as a sign nearby. Experiment 3 confirmed this finding, but, like Experiment 1, no significant increase in compliance was shown when pictorials were added to either warning.