Title

Child Safety in Grocery Stores: The Impact of Verbal Prompts and Reinforcement on Safety Strap Use in Shopping Carts

Abstract

Head and face injuries requiring a hospital visit are a consistent problem for young children shopping with their caregivers. Falls from shopping carts are the most common cause of such injuries. Using a reversal design with a 2-month follow-up, research assistants verbally prompted caregivers with small children seated in a shopping cart to put a safety strap on their child when entering a grocery store. Compliance resulted in the child receiving a gold star sticker. The sticker was used to identify participants for subsequent data collection when exiting the store. Verbal prompts and stickers increased safety belt use, and most children (95%) remained strapped in during their entire visit. A 2-month follow-up showed the effects to be short lived.

Department(s)

Psychology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2013.873380

Keywords

behavioral safety, shopping carts, prompts

Publication Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal of Organizational Behavior Management

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