Social Norms, Behavioral Change and Sanitation: Initiating a Large-scale Sociocentric Network Study to Understand the Open Defecation “Puzzle” in India
Cristina Bicchieri (Professor of Philosophy and Psychology from University of Pennsylvania ) and Hans-Peter Kohler (Professor from University of Pennsylvania)
The study was trying to investigate how social norms and social networks are linked to latrine use and sanitation practices in India. Even after rigorous efforts from the government, NGOs, and international organizations people are still going for open defecation. To better understand the social drivers of open defecation, a formative research mapping social networks in Indian communities, characterizing and diagnosing the collective behavior of open defecation practice. To do this, researchers at the Penn Social Norms Group conducted two waves of surveys, one focused on social networks, and another that focused on sanitation-related norms. The study included the mapping of social networks in targeted communities as well as an assessment of the norms surrounding a toilet use. Descriptive findings on toilet coverage and reported use, observed changes in coverage and use over time and results from diagnostic evaluations of collective sanitation behaviors were reported in the phase 1 report.
