Measures Of Behavioral Intentions Research Articles

The effect of social devaluation, labeling, and familiarity on children's attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a peer with symptoms of ADHD

AbstractThe present study examined the attitudes and behavioral intentions of 336 children aged 7–11 toward a hypothetical peer with symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to determine whether they were influenced by labeling, social devaluation, or familiarity. Children read one of five vignettes describing the behavior of a gender‐neutral peer before completing self‐report measures of attitudes and behavioral intentions. Results showed children held predominantly negative attitudes toward the hypothetical peer, which were more pronounced for inattentive than hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. These findings suggest that children were more likely to devalue internalizing rather than externalizing behaviors. Children also reported being more likely to engage in active/recreational and social activities rather than academic activities. In addition, the diagnostic label “ADHD” led to more negative attitudes and behavioral intentions, while knowing someone with ADHD mediated the negative effect of hyperactive/impulsive symptoms on attitudes and behavioral intentions. Finally, significant positive relationships were found between attitudes and children's willingness to engage in social, academic, and physical activities. Policy and practice implications of these findings are discussed.

Impact of Training on Employees' Handwashing Behaviors in School Nutrition Programs.

School nutrition employee behavior plays an important role in preventing foodborne outbreaks and protecting the almost 30 million children who partake in daily school lunch. The study aim was to compare the impact of using a food safety training program with or without using a realistic-event video on handwashing behavior modification for school nutrition employees. A 2-group (control and experimental) pretest with 2 post-tests design was used. The control group received training without the video and the experimental group received the food safety training with a realistic-event video. Measurements used to address the purpose and objectives of this study included questionnaires and direct observations. The sample consisted of 443 school nutrition employees responsible for food preparation and service affiliated with 21 school districts in 18 states. Approximately half of the sample attended the original unmodified training and the other half attended the modified training. Data were collected in the United States during 2017. A total of 338 employees participated in the observations and 443 participants completed the questionnaires during the 3 phases; 935 questionnaires were used for the analysis. The intervention involved a food safety training program embedded with a realistic-event video related to handwashing. The video used previous research to target antecedents to handwashing behavior among participants. Actual behavior was observed across 3 phases-pretraining, post training, and final-for both the control and experimental groups. In addition, indirect and direct measures of behavioral intentions for handwashing were measured. For the observation data, a 2-way, fixed-effects, mixed-model procedure was used to analyze the data. Simple and multiple linear regression and contingency table analyses looking for differences among phases and treatments were used for questionnaire data analysis. Most practices were reported as in compliance (51.3% to 80.6%) for both the control and experimental groups during all phases. The experimental group had a higher behavioral intention of properly washing their hands than participants in the control group. The results showed that handwashing practices were in compliance most of the time for both the control and experimental groups during all 3 observation periods. Differences among the data collection periods on the theory of planned behavior constructs indicated no statistical effect of the treatment (exposure to the video) between the control and intervention groups.

Pitfalls of self-reported measures of self-control: Surprising insights from extreme debtors.

We took a rare opportunity to examine whether extreme debtors have inflated assessment of their self-control capacity, potentially rendering self-reported measures ineffective as prediction tools for debt risks. The self-control profiles of extreme debtors (n=1442), whose credit card debt amounted to more than 12 months of their income, were compared with samples of the general population (n=505) and students from an elite university (n=1011) on a self-reported measure, a behavioral intention measure, and an executive function measure. Extreme debtors reported the highest self-control on the self-reported measure but scored the lowest on the behavioral intention measure and executive function. This pattern was robust across different subsections of demographics and diverse reasons of indebtedness. Our findings suggest that self-reported measures may be more susceptible to psychological distortions than behavioral measures, a pitfall that past research has overlooked. Furthermore, we reveal a double whammy faced by extreme debtors: they have a low capacity to regulate their behavior but hold an illusory perception of high capacity, which may expose them to further debt accumulation. The insights from our study underscore the utility of examining extreme segments of the population for advancing psychological knowledge.

A longitudinal study of behavioural outcomes following a visit to the Boom Festival 2018 drug checking service: individual and group level results

Drug checking services (DCS) allow people who use drugs to submit drug samples for chemical analysis and provide feedback of results and counseling. Our study tested the validity of behavioral intention measures against reports of actual behavior and the adoption of protective behavioral strategies. DCS patrons at Boom Festival 2018 completed three surveys during the festival (pre-drug analysis 343 participants submitted 671 drug samples, post-drug analysis 290 participants reported on 341 drug sample results, three-day follow-up 145 participants reported on 195 drug sample results) and another survey after six months (n = 71). At third-day follow-up, when the results were ‘not the expected substance’ (N = 35), 86% (n = 30) reported they ‘didn’t take the substance’; 11% (n = 4) ‘took a smaller dose than initially planned’ and only 3% (n = 1) ‘took it as planned’. In 71% (n = 63) of the matched post-test and third-day follow-up answers (N = 89), the behavior reported at third-day matched the behavioral intention reported during post-test. After six months, there was a slight increase in most harm-reduction behaviors; however, there was a substantial drop-out among respondents. Results support the hypothesis that DCS promote the adoption of safer drug use practices; however, further research is needed to evaluate the medium- and long-term effects of DCS.

The (Virtual) Reality of Social Approach-Avoidance Behaviours: Operationalisation Development and Construct Validity Testing

Research suggests that interpersonal approach-avoidance behaviours influence group evaluations. However, previous work partly neglected the multi-sensory and contextual cues at stake during interpersonal interactions and may offer a limited picture of the phenomenon. Here, we argue that immersive virtual reality (IVR) represents a useful tool to address this issue. In IVR, we implemented interpersonal approach-avoidance behaviours and tested their construct validity. Based on a careful examination of the literature, we defined two construct validity criteria: the evaluative influence of repeated approach-avoidance behaviours as well as the activation of the corresponding neuropsychological systems. In two experiments (NExp1 = 199, NExp2 = 205), we tested whether, compared to avoidance, approach leads to more positive group evaluations on self-report, reaction time based and behavioural intention measures. Additionally, we investigated whether the IVR operationalisations influence the neuropsychological systems assumed to underlie approach-avoidance behaviours. Overall, the findings are not consistent with the hypotheses and do not conclusively validate our IVR approach-avoidance operationalisation. Although additional research should examine more thoroughly the issues raised by the current work by investigating new ways of implementing approach-avoidance in IVR, the present contribution paves the way for such future developments. Despite these challenges, we encourage a consideration of the full-fledged subtleties of social interactions via adequate tools (IVR) for the study of approach-avoidance.

The psychological and behavioural correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in Ireland and the UK

BackgroundThe successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic depends largely on the acceptance and uptake of a COVID-19 vaccine among the public. Thus, formative research aiming to understand and determine the causes of weak and/or positive vaccination intentions is vital in order to ensure the success of future and current vaccination programmes through the provision of effective, evidence-based health messaging. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was completed by a sample of Irish (N = 500) and UK (N = 579) citizens using the online platform ‘Qualtrics’. Participants completed a questionnaire battery comprised of health, attitudes/beliefs, influences, and behavioural intention measures. Demographic information was also assessed. ResultsResults highlighted similar rates of vaccine intention among both samples; where a total of 76.8% Irish respondents, and 73.7% of UK respondents indicated that they intended to be immunized if the government advised them to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, 23.2% of Irish respondents reported being vaccine hesitant or vaccine resistant, while a rate of 26.3% of UK respondents reported vaccine hesitancy or resistance. Univariate analysis highlighted that both gender and age played a significant role in vaccine intention, with women under age 30 reporting higher rate of vaccine hesitancy. Multivariate analysis revealed that significant correlates of vaccine acceptance included peer influence, GP influence, civic responsibility, perceived benefit, and positive vaccination attitudes. Those who reported vaccine resistance and hesitancy were more likely to have less positive vaccination attitudes and perceive higher vaccination risk. DiscussionThe current sociodemographic and psychological profiles of vaccine resistant and hesitant individuals provide a useful resource for informing health practitioners in the UK and Ireland with the means of enhancing pro-vaccine attitudes and promoting vaccination uptake. The current research shows indications of associations between distrust in the vaccine itself and vaccine hesitancy and resistance. Thus, to effectively design and deliver public health messages that ensures the success of vaccination uptake, it is likely that governments and public health officials will need to take actions to garner trust in the safety of the vaccine itself. Additionally, campaigns to decrease hesitancy and resistance in the COVID-19 vaccine may benefit in targeting altruism to increase willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Bandwagoning, free-riding and heterogeneity in influenza vaccine decisions: An online experiment.

‘Nudge’‐based social norms messages conveying high population influenza vaccination coverage levels can encourage vaccination due to bandwagoning effects but also discourage vaccination due to free‐riding effects on low risk of infection, making their impact on vaccination uptake ambiguous. We develop a theoretical framework to capture heterogeneity around vaccination behaviors, and empirically measure the causal effects of different messages about vaccination coverage rates on four self‐reported and behavioral vaccination intention measures. In an online experiment, N = 1365 UK adults are randomly assigned to one of seven treatment groups with different messages about their social environment's coverage rate (varied between 10% and 95%), or a control group with no message. We find that treated groups have significantly greater vaccination intention than the control. Treatment effects increase with the coverage rate up to a 75% level, consistent with a bandwagoning effect. For coverage rates above 75%, the treatment effects, albeit still positive, stop increasing and remain flat (or even decline). Our results suggest that, at higher coverage rates, free‐riding behavior may partially crowd out bandwagoning effects of coverage rate messages. We also find significant heterogeneity of these effects depending on the individual perceptions of risks of infection and of the coverage rates.

Real-effort survey designs: Open-ended questions to overcome the challenge of measuring behavior in surveys

Based on data triangulation, open-ended questions can be used to overcome a typical problem with data collection using surveys: Human behavior can only be captured as stated or intended, but not as real behavior. In this study on knowledge sharing in the workplace, a quantitative measure of behavioral intention was accompanied by such a qualitative, open-ended measure of behavior. The latter was used as a proxy for real instead of stated behavior. This item was coded according to the effort a participant made in answering. It is assumed that the greater the effort put into answering the open-ended question, the more likely it is that the described behavior will be performed in reality. A factorial experimental design was used to analyze the effect of rewards on employees’ knowledge-sharing behavior. As a within-subject design was used, participants had to answer three open-ended questions referring to different vignettes. A strong order effect appeared, leading to longer answers on average for the first vignette (baseline) compared to subsequent vignettes, independent of treatment. Therefore, this approach to operationalizing behavior in surveys might not be useful in within-subject designs. However, it can be used in between-subject comparisons when participants are asked to answer to a single vignette.

Comparing self-affirmation manipulations to reduce alcohol consumption in university students

Objective: Self-affirmation theory proposes that defensive processing prevents people from accepting health-risk messages, which may explain university students’ dismissal of risk-information about binge drinking. SA-interventions may encourage non-biased processing of such information through impacting on interpersonal feelings and self-esteem. This study compared two self-affirmation manipulations on interpersonal feelings, self-esteem, message processing, message acceptance and subsequent alcohol consumption. Participants: UK university students (N = 454). Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to one of three conditions (Self-affirmation Implementation Intention, Kindness Questionnaire, Control) before reading health-risk information about binge drinking. This was followed by measures of interpersonal feelings, self-esteem, message processing, acceptance and behavioral intentions. Alcohol consumption was assessed one week later. Results: The self-affirmation manipulations had non-significant effects on all outcome variables. Conclusion: Consistent with previous research, the results indicate that self-affirmation interventions are not effective for reducing alcohol consumption in university students.

Development and validation of behavioral intention measures of an E-vapor product: intention to try, use, dual use, and switch

BackgroundThe harm caused by tobacco use is primarily attributable to cigarette smoking. Switching completely to non-combustible products may reduce disease risks in adult cigarette smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit. Before a new tobacco product can enter the market or can be marketed as a modified risk tobacco product, the manufacturer must determine the impact that the product will have on the likelihood of changes in tobacco use behavior among both tobacco users and nonusers. One way to estimate change in tobacco use behavior is to assess tobacco users’ and nonusers’ behavioral intentions toward the product and its marketing, including intentions to try, use, dual use, and switch to the product from cigarettes. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate behavioral intention metrics appropriate for use with current, former, and never adult tobacco users.MethodsPreliminary items were subjected to cognitive testing with adult (1) smokers planning to quit cigarettes in the next 30 days, (2) smokers not planning to quit cigarettes in the next 30 days, (3) e-vapor users, (4) former tobacco users, and (5) never tobacco users. Items were iteratively revised based on feedback during cognitive testing, and surviving items were administered to a large sample of adults (N = 2943) representing the aforementioned sub-groups. Rating scale functioning, reliability, validity, bias, and ability to detect change were evaluated.ResultsExamination of the response category thresholds generated by the Rasch model provided evidence that the rating scales were functioning appropriately. Results revealed good stability and excellent internal consistency and person reliability and provided evidence of unidimensionality and convergent validity. Estimates of reliability and validity were similar across sub-groups. A cross-validation sample generally confirmed findings from the validation sample. No items were discarded due to differential item function. Exploratory analyses provided support for ability to detect change.ConclusionsResults from this rigorous, empirical evaluation using large validation and cross-validation samples provide strong support for the psychometric properties of the Intention to Try, Use, Dual Use, and Switch scales with current, former, and never adult tobacco users.

Measures of both perceived general and specific risks and benefits differentially predict adolescent and young adult tobacco and marijuana use: findings from a Prospective Cohort Study

Health behavior theorists and prevention researchers use a variety of measures of adolescent and young adult (AYA) risk and benefit perceptions to predict tobacco-use and marijuana-use behaviors. However, studies have not examined whether and how perception measures that ask about likelihood of more general outcomes such as “harm” versus ask about specific risk or benefit outcomes compare or whether they differentially predict AYA willingness to use if one of your best friends were to offer it and intentions to use in the next year; and if these measures have differential ability to predict actual use of tobacco and marijuana. We used data from a prospective cohort of California AYAs to create and test new scales to measure perceptions of specific health and social outcomes related to risks (e.g., smell bad) and benefits (e.g., look cool) related to tobacco and marijuana, and then addressed three questions: (1) Whether and how measures of perceptions of specific social and health risks and benefits (for our purposes “specific measures”) and measures of perceived general harm are differentially associated with measures of willingness, social norms, and intentions to use? (2) Are specific versus general measures differentially associated with and predictive of tobacco and cannabis use behavior? (3) Are specific perceptions measures differentially predictive of behavior compared to measures of willingness, social norms, and behavioral intentions? Our results demonstrate that to better predict AYA tobacco and marijuana use, measures that address general outcomes, such as harmfulness, as well as willingness and behavioral intention should be used. We also found that measures of specific perceived risks (short-term, long-term, social) and benefits were unrelated and correlated differently with different products. For example, adolescents perceived both risks and benefits from using products like e-cigarettes, and perceived greater risk from smokeless tobacco compared to combustible cigarettes. These findings indicate that measures of specific perceived social and health outcomes can be useful to discern nuanced differences in motivation for using different substances. Study implications are important for survey dimension-reduction and assessing relationships among perceptions, motivations, and use of tobacco and marijuana products.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Environmental and Health Concern Pathways Toward Meat Consumption.

The dramatic increase of meat production in the last decades has proven to be one of the most impacting causes of negative environmental outcomes (e.g., increase of greenhouse emissions, pollution of land and water, and biodiversity loss). In two studies, we aimed to verify the role of key socio-psychological dimensions on meat intake. Study 1 (N = 198) tested the predictive power of an extended version of the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) model on individual food choices in an online supermarket simulation. In an online survey, participants were directed to a virtual shop and asked to buy food within a set amount of money. Subsequently, they completed measures of behavioral intention, the VBN constructs (values, general pro-environmental beliefs, awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, and personal norm), and social norms (injunctive and descriptive). The outcome variable was operationalized in terms of percentage of expenses dedicated to meat and processed meat items, which provided a more robust behavioral measure than the common self-reported ones. Results confirmed the VBN sequential path, showing direct effects of biospheric values and descriptive norm on personal norm. Furthermore, a proof of validity for the new behavioral measure was provided (medium-sized correlation with behavioral intention). Study 2 (N = 218) aimed at verifying whether the meat consumption could be also motivated by a health concern, reflecting individual (cost/benefit) considerations, besides pro-environmental drivers. Results showed the direct impact of health concern and confirmed the indirect role of biospheric values and descriptive norm (via personal norm) on meat intake. This evidence would suggest the use of multiple-frame messages, highlighting both pro-environmental and health consequences, for meat consumption reduction. Nevertheless, the different implications of moral (e.g., environmental concern) vs. non-moral motivators (e.g., health concern) for reducing meat intake need to be stressed: indeed, the first drivers are more central for self-identity and for engaging in environmental citizenship behaviors.

Normative Influence on Household Waste Separation: The Moderating Effect of Policy Implementation and Sociodemographic Variables

Background: With the increasing production of domestic waste in South African urban areas, household waste separation has become a crucial recycling activity for better management of domestic waste and a decrease in environmental pollution. Focus of the article: This empirical study investigates how normative influences can shape the intention to separate household waste and how these influences are moderated by sociodemographic attributes and upstream social marketing interventions (recycling policy implementation). Research Hypotheses: The hypotheses stipulate that descriptive, injunctive, and moral norms have an influence on the behavioral intention to separate household waste before disposal. Policy implementation and sociodemographic variables moderate the impact of these normative forces on behavioral intention. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied to this study. A survey was administered to collect quantitative data from 350 households residing in a city that is currently implementing a mandatory recycling policy (Johannesburg) and from 349 households in a city that is not doing so (Tshwane). Structural equation modeling and moderation analysis were the main data analysis techniques applied to this study. Results: The findings underline the importance of injunctive and moral norms in influencing the intention to separate household waste. Gender and age appeared to play an important moderating role in the relationships between norms and behavioral intention. Policy implementation had no effect on the reported influences of social and moral norms on the intention to separate household waste. Recommendations for Practice: Policy makers in emerging markets are encouraged to apply more persuasive and decisive actions such as financial incentives (or disincentives) that will motivate households to comply with recycling policies. Limitations: One limitation of this study is the application of a cross-sectional design relying on self-reported measures of norms and behavioral intention.

In the context of romantic attraction, beautification can increase assertiveness in women.

Can beautification empower women to act assertively? Some women report that beautification is an agentic and assertive act, whereas others find beautification to be oppressive and disempowering. To disentangle these effects, in the context of romantic attraction we conducted the first experimental tests of beautification-on psychological and behavioral assertiveness. Experiment 1 (N = 145) utilized a between-subjects design in which women used their own clothing, make-up, and accessories to adjust their appearance as they normally would for a "hot date" (beautification condition) or a casual day at home with friends (control condition). We measured implicit, explicit, and behavioral assertiveness, as well as positive affect and sexual motivation. Experiment 2 (N = 40) sought to conceptually replicate Experiment 1 using a within-subject design and different measures of assertiveness. Women completed measures of explicit assertiveness and assertive behavioral intentions in three domains, in whatever clothing they were wearing that day then again after extensively beautifying their appearance. In Experiment 1, we found that women demonstrated higher psychological assertiveness after beautifying their appearance, and that high sexual motivation mediated the effect of beautification on assertive behavior. All effects were independent of positive affect. Experiment 2 partially replicated Experiment 1. These experiments provide novel insight into the effects of women's appearance-enhancing behaviors on assertiveness by providing evidence that beautification may positively affect assertiveness in women under some circumstances.

An application of a modified theory of planned behavior model to investigate adolescents’ job safety knowledge, norms, attitude and intention to enact workplace safety and health skills

Introduction: For many reasons, including a lack of adequate safety training and education, U.S. adolescents experience a higher rate of job-related injury compared to adult workers. Widely used social-psychological theories in public health research and practice, such as the theory of planned behavior, may provide guidance for developing and evaluating school-based interventions to prepare adolescents for workplace hazards and risks. Method: Using a structural equation modeling approach, the current study explores whether a modified theory of planned behavior model provides insight on 1,748 eighth graders’ occupational safety and health (OSH) attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy and behavioral intention, before and after receiving instruction on a free, national young worker safety and health curriculum. Reliability estimates for the measures were produced and direct and indirect associations between knowledge and other model constructs assessed. Results: Overall, the findings align with the theory of planned behavior. The structural equation model adequately fit the data; most path coefficients are statistically significant and knowledge has indirect effects on behavioral intention. Confirmatory factor analyses suggest that the knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention measures each reflect a unique dimension (reliability estimates ≥0.86), while the subjective norm measure did not perform adequately. Conclusion: The findings presented provide support for using behavioral theory (specifically a modified theory of planned behavior) to investigate adolescents’ knowledge, perceptions, and behavioral intention to engage in safe and healthful activities at work, an understanding of which may contribute to reducing the downstream burden of injury on this vulnerable population—the future workforce. Practical application: Health behavior theories, commonly used in the social and behavioral sciences, have utility and provide guidance for developing and evaluating OSH interventions, including those aimed at preventing injuries and promoting the health and safety of adolescent workers in the U.S., who are injured at higher rates than are adults.

Patient Prototypes

Abstract. Despite large bodies of research examining perceptions of illnesses and perceptions of people who engage in various health behaviors, very little research has examined perceptions of people who have a specific illness. The aims of this research were to create a measure of “patient prototypes,” mental representations of the type of person who has a specific illness, and to examine their associations with other health cognitions and behaviors. Two survey studies (Study 1: N = 208 and Study 2: N = 246) assessed patient prototype favorability for three illnesses (skin cancer, Human papillomavirus (HPV), and type 2 diabetes) as well as constructs from the common-sense model and prototype willingness model. Patient prototypes for the three illnesses were distinct in terms of specific traits and overall favorability. Generally, patient prototype favorability was unrelated to illness representation dimensions in the common-sense model but was positively associated with some constructs in the prototype/willingness model. All three prototypes were positively correlated with perceived vulnerability. The skin cancer prototype was positively correlated with measures of behavioral willingness, behavioral intention, and actual health behavior (UV exposure). Limitations include the use of young adult participants who have relatively little experience with the illnesses examined. Measures of patient prototype favorability and health behaviors need to be further examined and refined. The novel construct of patient prototype favorability provides a foundation for future inquiry into the role that patient perceptions play in health behavior and the implications for the prototype/willingness model and the common-sense model.

Amused, accepted, and used? Attitudes and emotions towards automated vehicles, their relationships, and predictive value for usage intention

Automated vehicles (AVs) have left the laboratories and can be experienced in several projects, e.g. at the premises of a clinic in Germany. With this transition, research on AV attitudes no longer needs to rely on questionnaires with hypothetical scenarios and simulations. Previous research – limited by the unavailability of AVs – has provided ambivalent results regarding age and gender differences in attitudes towards AVs. We present research results about the role of age and gender in connection with attitudes such as acceptance, perceived safety, and trust, as well as intention to use. We additionally demonstrate relationships between those constructs and emotions such as amusement, fear, and surprise. Data were collected from participants (n = 125) after having experienced an AV ride with level 4 automation on two campuses of a clinic in Berlin, Germany. Results reveal strong correlations between all attitudes (0.55 ≤ r ≤ 0.71; p < 0.01) and show acceptance and perceived safety to be solid predictors of intention to use AVs. We also found age to be a significant predictor for usage intention even when other attitudes are considered (β = −0.22; p < 0.01). MANOVA results point to gender differences in all constructs, but with limited confidence (5.40 ≤ F ≤ 18.34; p ≤ 0.02). However, we reject our hypothesis that young men are highly accepting, trusting, and intending to use AVs compared to other combinations of age and gender. We recommend using a mix of attitude, emotion, and behavioural (intention) measures in future research on AVs together with more transparency regarding construct definitions and study materials.

Cathodal stimulating the left DLPFC changes risk disposition toward common risky behaviors in daily-life

Many daily activities require the weighting of risks and gains, and adjusting decisions based on this information. The present study investigates the role of left DLPFC in such normal-life, routine, but risky decisions. We expected that down-regulating the left DLPFC will reduce emphasis on gains such that less-riskier decisions, as captured with attitude and behavioral intention measures, are made. In study 1 (n = 56), tDCS naïve participants were recruited and subjected to high-definition cathodal tDCS stimulation (with intensity of 1.5 mA for 20 min) of the left DLPFC. A single-blind within-subject pre-post design was employed, in which each subject responded to realistic, normal life, risky decision and control scenarios, before and after stimulation. In study 2 (n = 60), we added a between-subjects factor by assigning half of the participants to a sham stimulation condition. Results were consistent across studies. They demonstrated significantly reduced attitudes and intentions toward risky behaviors, and no significant changes in attitudes and intentions toward control behaviors. Study 2 showed that the reductions were significantly larger in the tDCS stimulation group than in the sham group. These results highlight the role of the left DLPFC in mediating common daily risky behaviors.

The Role of BMI Group on the Impact of Weight Bias Versus Body Positivity Terminology on Behavioral Intentions and Beliefs: An Experimental Study.

This experimental study investigated the role of BMI on the impact of weight bias vs body positivity terminology on behavioral intentions and beliefs about obesity. Participants (n = 332) were randomly allocated to two conditions to receive a vignette depicting an image of a person with obesity using either weight bias (n = 164) or body positivity (n = 168) terminology. Participants were divided into three groups based upon their BMI category (normal weight n = 173; overweight n = 92; obese n = 64). They then completed measures of behavioral intentions, obesity illness beliefs, and fat phobia. Although there were several differences in beliefs by BMI group, the results showed no differences between weight bias or body positivity terminology on any measures. There were, however, significant BMI group by condition interactions for beliefs about obesity relating to personal control and treatment control. Post hoc tests showed that weight bias resulted in reduced personal control in the obese BMI group compared to other participants. Weight bias also resulted in higher personal control over obesity in normal weight individuals compared to body positivity. People with obesity reported higher treatment control when exposed to weight bias compared to overweight participants, whereas normal weight participants reported greater treatment control when exposed to body positivity compared to both other groups. To conclude, the impact of weight bias and body positivity information is not universal and varies according to the BMI of the audience and the outcome being measured; whereas people of normal weight may benefit from weight bias there is no evidence that obese people benefit from body positivity. Implications for the prevention and treatment of obesity are discussed.

What Can We Learn From Factorial Surveys About Human Behavior?

Abstract. Factorial survey experiments are increasingly used in the social sciences to investigate behavioral intentions. The measurement of self-reported behavioral intentions with factorial survey experiments frequently assumes that the determinants of intended behavior affect actual behavior in a similar way. We critically investigate this fundamental assumption using the misdirected email technique. Student participants of a survey were randomly assigned to a field experiment or a survey experiment. The email informs the recipient about the reception of a scholarship with varying stakes (full-time vs. book) and recipient’s names (German vs. Arabic). In the survey experiment, respondents saw an image of the same email. This validation design ensured a high level of correspondence between units, settings, and treatments across both studies. Results reveal that while the frequencies of self-reported intentions and actual behavior deviate, treatments show similar relative effects. Hence, although further research on this topic is needed, this study suggests that determinants of behavior might be inferred from behavioral intentions measured with survey experiments.