Posted Warnings, Compliance, and Behavioral Intent

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine behavioral compliance with posted warnings varying in design features. Thirty-seven participants performed a chemical mixing task in an environment with no posted warning, a text-only warning, or a warning consisting of design components identified in the warnings literature (i.e., signal word, alert symbol, color). Participants were randomly assigned to one of three direct experience sign conditions. Participants also provided ratings of behavioral intent in conditions involving written scenarios and photographs of the task setting. Although eleven of the participants wore either gloves or goggles or both, none of the participants in the sign conditions looked at the posted warning signs. Ratings of behavioral intent in response to written scenarios revealed significant effects of sign type, and significant differences between ratings of self and ratings of others. Factors relating to research design and sample selection as well as implications for future compliance research are discussed.