A stronger set of data would also include measurement of stair use.
It would be expected that as the proportion of elevator riders going longer distances increased (as with the enhanced sign D), simultaneously a greater proportion of individuals should be using the stairs for shorter distances.
Stair use was not assessed in the present study because of the
considerable resources that it would require: (a) having
a research assistant posted on every floor of the
building, (b) a method of communicating between
them and (c) extensive coordination efforts to
determine which floor individuals entered and exited.
Thus, while stair use data would be desirable, the
difficulties associated with its collection probably
precludes its measurement except in special
circumstances. Other researchers might have access to
locations where such data could more easily be
collected such as buildings with existing video cameras
posted in hallways, elevators and stairs with a
centralized set of video display units to view people’s
behaviour. Even without the stair use data, we believe
that the present data is a reasonably good indication
that the enhanced sign was effective in changing
people’s use of the elevators. Moreover, the total
number of people using the elevator in the enhanced
sign condition was lower than any of the other sign
conditions, suggesting that more people in that
condition used the stairs.