CAN THE QUANTIFIED-SELF CHANGE URBAN MOBILITY BEHAVIOR? THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION

Abstract

This research focuses on how the quantified-self can change the everyday urban mobility behavior of users. By taking an exploratory approach, we analyze fifty-five individual interviews with a group of young people who use smartphones on a daily basis. On the basis of framing theory, our results highlight the importance the form in which self-quantified information is presented in the context of a mobile application with an environmental element. CO2 information on individual mobility has more impact if the benefits are presented simply and in small quantities (vs. complex), in the form of gains (vs. losses), with individual (rather than collective) scope, favoring descriptive norms (over injunctive norms), with a short-term (rather than long-term) perspective. In the context of the ecological transition, some avenues for managerial reflection are suggested, in particular on how practitioners can design a mobile application with an environmental focus.