Behavioural spillover, in which initial behaviour undertaken by individuals leads to other behaviours, has attracted attention of environmental policymakers. We propose to understand behavioural spillover of goal-setting using a goal theoretical perspective. Using a randomized controlled trial, this study examines and compares spillover effects – from electricity-saving to water-saving – of three types of goal-setting intervention. In a field experiment carried out in Singapore, 150 households were randomly assigned to the control group or one of three treatment groups – where they set electricity-saving goal by themselves (SG), were assigned a 10% goal (AG), or were assigned a 10% goal with a guarantee of a monetary reward for goal achievement (AGM). An electricity consumption reportwas also provided weekly to participants in the treatment groups during the six weeks of intervention; participants in the control group received no information. We found that all the three types of goal-setting intervention significantly reduced participants’ electricity consumption. Participants in the SG group recorded a positive spillover effect to water-saving; however, no spillover was found in the AG and AGM groups. Finally, limited evidence was found that shows that goal commitment can moderate the spillover effect. Hence, the self-set goal is preferred to promote positive spillover and these results reduce the concern that monetary incentive could trigger negative spillover.

行为溢出（个人最初采取的行为会导致其他行为）引起了环境政策制定者的注意。我们建议使用目标理论视角来了解目标设定的行为溢出效应。本研究使用随机对照试验，研究并比较了三种目标设定干预措施的溢出效应（从节电到节水）。在新加坡进行的现场实验中，将150户家庭随机分配到对照组或三个处理组之一中，他们自己设定节电目标（SG），分配10％目标（AG）或分配了10％的目标，并为实现目标（AGM）提供了金钱奖励。在干预的六周内，每周还向治疗组的参与者提供电力消耗报告；对照组的参与者未收到任何信息。我们发现，所有三种目标设定干预措施均显着降低了参与者的用电量。SG组的参与者对节水产生了积极的溢出效应；但是，在AG和AGM组中未发现溢出。最后，发现有限的证据表明目标承诺可以减轻溢出效应。因此，最好采用自我设定的目标来促进积极的溢出效应，这些结果减少了人们对货币激励可能引发负面溢出效应的担忧。我们发现，所有三种目标设定干预措施均显着降低了参与者的用电量。SG组的参与者对节水产生了积极的溢出效应；但是，在AG和AGM组中未发现溢出。最后，发现有限的证据表明目标承诺可以减轻溢出效应。因此，最好采用自我设定的目标来促进积极的溢出效应，这些结果减少了人们对货币激励可能引发负面溢出效应的担忧。我们发现，所有三种目标设定干预措施均显着降低了参与者的用电量。SG组的参与者对节水产生了积极的溢出效应；但是，在AG和AGM组中未发现溢出。最后，发现有限的证据表明目标承诺可以减轻溢出效应。因此，最好采用自我设定的目标来促进积极的溢出效应，这些结果减少了人们对货币激励可能引发负面溢出效应的担忧。有限的证据表明，目标承诺可以减轻溢出效应。因此，最好采用自我设定的目标来促进积极的溢出效应，这些结果减少了人们对货币激励可能引发负面溢出效应的担忧。有限的证据表明，目标承诺可以减轻溢出效应。因此，最好采用自我设定的目标来促进积极的溢出效应，这些结果减少了人们对货币激励可能引发负面溢出效应的担忧。