PROMOTING SAFETY OBSERVATIONS WITH SOCIAL COMPARISON: COMPETITIVE NORMATIVE FEEDBACK INCREASES QUALITY PARTICIPATION IN A NEW BEHAVIORAL SAFETY PROGRAM

The study examined the effectiveness of normative feedback interventions to increase the quantity and quality of behavioral safety observation participation across multiple departments in a large textile manufacturing facility. For the purposes of this study, quantity observations refer to the total counts of observation cards submitted, while quality observations refer to observation cards with the inclusion of written comments on them. The intervention consisted of presenting normative feedback on behavioral observation counts to three experimental departments paired with a low-stakes competition. An ABCA within-and-between group reversal design consisting of four intervention phases (Baseline, Normative Feedback on observation quantity, Normative Feedback on observation quality, and Reversal) resulted in statistically significant increases in weekly observation quantity and quality-focused observations during their targeted interventions and declines during reversal. These results demonstrated the shortv term effectiveness of normative feedback framed in a competitive game, and highlighted the need for differentiated reinforcement systems to sustain quality participation. Implications for behavioral safety program implementation using normative feedback interventions, reinforcement equity, and intervention tailoring to specific departmental nuances were discussed.<p></p>