Online Panel Survey Research Articles

Development of item banks to assess financial hardship in cancer survivors using item response theory

BackgroundFinancial hardship is common after a cancer diagnosis. Current financial hardship measures have advanced the field, but assessing the dimensions of financial hardship remains challenging. We created item banks to assess four financial hardship dimensions using item response theory (IRT). IRT-based item banks can be tailored to each context and used in computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to reduce participant burden.MethodsCancer survivors (n = 459) were recruited from a survivorship program and online survey panel to complete an online or paper survey. Four item banks were developed based on previous studies, expert feedback, and patient interviews: financial coping: 41 items, financial consequences: 21 items, financial depression: 15 items, and financial worry: 21 items. We used the two-parameter logistic and graded response models for analysis.ResultsThe IRT model fit well for all four item banks: financial coping root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, financial consequences RMSEA = 0.03; financial depression RMSEA = 0.05; and financial worry RMSEA = 0.03. The accuracy parameters ranged from 1.01 to 6.53, indicating good reliability for each item. The severity parameters showed each item bank assessed financial hardship across two to three standard deviations, supporting content validity. Short forms were developed for financial consequences, depression, and worry.ConclusionThe item banks can be used to create brief screening measures and, using CAT, efficiently screen for each dimension of financial hardship while minimizing burden. Future research is required to assess the clinical utility of using the item banks to screen for financial hardship.

How Japan’s COVID-19 vaccination policy shapes trust in governance: a relative deprivation approach

Abstract This study examines changes in the association between social policy performance and trust in government, focusing on the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination policy implemented by Japan’s central government. Data from the Online Panel Survey of Stratification and Social Psychology (SSPW2021-Panel) were analyzed using two-way fixed effects regression models. The quadratic term of the COVID-19 vaccination rate at the prefecture level had statistically significant effects on the evaluation of the central government’s infection control policies and trust in the central government. This implies that the relative deprivation experienced by unvaccinated individuals weakened trust in the central government in the early stage, and the decline in the number of unvaccinated individuals strengthened trust in the central government in the latter stage. Thus, this paper finds that even if a social policy meets people’s demands, its implementation may temporally damage the government’s reputation through relative deprivation.

Emotional priming for sustainable consumption? The effects of social media content on the valuation of chocolate

Abstract Current consumption patterns in the Global North are unsustainable across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. To promote more sustainable consumer behavior, emotional priming on social media has become an increasingly popular tool. In this paper, we mimic social media content to test the effectiveness of emotional priming in incentivizing sustainable consumption. Specifically, we examine whether emotionally primed information about sustainability aspects in cocoa production increases consumers’ valuation for sustainably produced products in the short and medium term. To achieve this, we conducted an online panel survey of 2,161 German consumers with random assignment to one of four different treatments (unprimed information or information with emotional prime) designed as social media posts (videos). We differentiate between environmental sustainability and social responsibility, and separate the products into sustainability certification, uncertified claims, and conventional chocolate. We find statistically significant positive effects of the emotional primes on consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for products with sustainability certifications and non-certified sustainability claims in the short term. These effects can be attributed to negative emotions triggered by the primes. Two weeks after the treatments, the WTP decreases for all groups. The difference in WTP between the primed and unprimed groups diminishes in the medium term. Primed participants value sustainability certifications and claims less than those who received unprimed information.

The Public Trust in Science Scale: A Multilevel and Multidimensional Approach

We developed and validated the Public Trust in Science (PuTruS) Scale to recognize the multidimensional nature of the concept. Drawing on an epistemic understanding of trust in science as a perception, we integrate prior research on different levels of trust objects, emphasizing the importance of trust in scientists. In addition, we include transparency and dialogue orientation to reflect increased public engagement expectations. Data from two German online panel surveys ( nW1 = 3,439; nW2 = 1,030) points toward a five-dimensional structure (expertise, integrity, benevolence, transparency, dialogue orientation). For external validation, we used deference to scientific authority, conspiracy beliefs, and science populism.

More than meets the eye: the interplay of spending and product variety in organic shopping

PurposeThis study investigates the growing global interest in organic food by examining the relationship between consumer spending patterns and the variety of organic product categories within shopping baskets. Expanding on prior research on intrinsic motivations for choosing organic products, this paper introduces differences between consumers based on their spending levels and the quantity and type – fresh vs processed – of organic products they purchase.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive analysis was conducted using data from an online panel survey in Spain, targeting regular consumers of ecological products. A total of 627 respondents were surveyed (e = 4%, N.C. = 95%; p = q = 0.5). Consumers were segmented based on the quantity of organic product categories in their baskets. The data were analysed using cross-tabulation, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA to identify significant differences in spending and product variety.FindingsThe study identified significant differences in spending patterns and in the variety of organic products purchased between the eco-consumer segments – essential, mindful and super – characterised by the variety of product categories in their shopping baskets. These findings align with global trends in eco-friendly consumption, providing a nuanced understanding of consumer behaviour in the organic food market.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the impact of the variety of organic product categories within a shopping basket as a segmentation factor. The research contributes a novel perspective to the literature on organic food consumption by highlighting how the count and type of products influence consumer segmentation and spending behaviour.

Australian parents' perceptions of the risks posed by harmful products to the health of children.

Cigarettes, alcohol, vaping and gambling products can cause significant harm to children and young people. The industries that make these products employ a range of tactics that aim to normalize their products and resist policy and regulatory reform. This includes 'responsibility' framing, in which parents are often held responsible for educating their children about the risks of these products. However, there has been very little research, which has investigated parents' perceptions of these industries. A qualitatively led online panel survey was conducted with n = 455 Australian parents who had at least one child aged between 11 and 17 years. Participants were asked questions relating to concerns about harmful products; what they talked about with their children; other potential sources of risk information; and who were responsible for protecting young people from these industries. Four themes were constructed. (i) Parents identified that parental influence, peer pressure, social media and advertising influenced children's attitudes towards these products. (ii) They had concerns about the short- and long-term consequences of these products. (iii) Parents actively engaged in educating their children about these products but recognized that it was difficult to counter industry messages. (iv) Parents emphasized the need for a collective approach, advocating for increased information and government regulations, particularly relating to marketing. This study demonstrates that parents are concerned about these industries and do their best to protect their children from harm but recognize that they need more support. Evidence-based education and comprehensive regulations particularly around marketing are needed to de-normalize products and protect young people.

Changing Trends of Excess Self-protective Behavior, and Association with Belief in Prevention Myths During the COVID-19 Epidemic in China: A Panel Study.

This prospective observational study examined changing trends of excess self-protective behavior (EPB), and their association with perceived risk, perceived severity, and irrational beliefs about prevention during the Chinese COVID-19 epidemic. Participants were recruited for an online panel survey. There are 150 participants for the baseline and 102 for the final survey. There were 5 waves of interviews. Perceptions of risk and disease severity were measured by single items. Irrational beliefs about prevention and EPB comprised 5 common prevention misconceptions. Descriptive statistics and the CATMOD program were used for data analysis. The prevalence of participants perceiving personal risk of contracting COVID-19 and severe consequences of the disease was 18.6% and 25.5%, respectively, at baseline, and declining to 4.9% and 17.6% at final observation. The 5 selected EPB also showed a diminishing trend. Belief in COVID-19 prevention myths trended upwards. Perceived risk was positively associated with each EPB, and perceived severity with disinfection of clothes and hoarding of products. Myth adherence was positively associated with disinfection of clothes and both hand washing and sanitization. This study yields new information about EPB among the Chinese public. Policy modifications and public education interventions are essential for minimizing the adverse health effects of subscribing to irrational beliefs.

Facial attractiveness does not modify the perceived trustworthiness of ethnic minority men

Immigrants, and particularly immigrant men, are often stereotyped as untrustworthy in European societies. However, little research has examined how stereotypes of characteristics other than ethnicity might impact natives’ perceptions of the trustworthiness of immigrants. Here, I test whether facial attractiveness, a trait associated with a variety of positive stereotypes, might modify ethnic biases in trustworthiness perceptions. I vary facial attractiveness and ethnicity using photo and name stimuli presented in a hypothetical “lost wallet” vignette, in which respondents assess the likelihood of the pictured man returning their lost wallet. Results from an German online panel survey indicate that while attractiveness has a modest positive effect on perceived trustworthiness, the value of attractiveness does not differ between ethnic majority German men and men with a Turkish migration background. Rather, the largest differences in the perceived trustworthiness of Turkish-origin men are found between respondents with inclusionary and exclusionary immigration attitudes, with inclusionary respondents reporting that Turkish-origin vignette persons are more trustworthy than ethnic majority German vignette persons. These results suggest that physical attractiveness does not act as a substantial moderator of ethnic biases in trustworthiness perceptions, but that immigration attitudes are highly relevant.

Public perceptions of climate change and health in Wales: a national cross-sectional survey

BackgroundClimate change significantly threatens global health. In Wales, rising temperatures are projected to exacerbate extreme weather, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. Despite efforts to mitigate climate change, understanding of public perceptions and behaviours remains limited. To address this, a national survey was conducted to assess population views on climate change, policy solutions, health implications and climate-friendly behaviours. MethodsA cross-sectional survey targeted a stratified random sample of Welsh residents aged ≥16, using lower super output area as the sampling unit, stratified by health board and deprivation quintile. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Self-reported data were collected via interviews and an online panel survey, and weighted to reflect national population demographics. Analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses to examine the impact of gender, age, deprivation, location and education on population views and behaviours. FindingsData from 2296 participants showed 82% were concerned about climate change, with females (adjusted odds ratio 1·824, 95% CIs 1·446–2·301, p<0·001) and those with higher education (3·073, 2·023–4·669, p<0·001) more likely to express concern. Heating costs (18%) and access to health services (14%) were the top health-related concerns across all demographics. Popular mitigation policies, each strongly supported by 63%, included expanding renewable energy, improving public transport, and reducing plastic packaging. Challenges include confusion due to conflicting information (54%) and reluctance to adopt certain climate-friendly behaviours like reducing meat and dairy intake (41%). InterpretationResults indicate public concern about climate change and support for mitigation policies. Key areas for future action include provision of trusted information, promoting personal responsibility for action, providing guidance on engaging in climate-friendly actions, and capitalising on opportunities to shift attitudes. While the study's cross-sectional design offers only a snapshot of public views, future research could track opinion changes over time. Findings can inform targeted strategies to mitigate climate change and protect public health. FundingPublic Health Wales NHS Trust.

Understanding U.S. Caregivers' Perceptions of Youth's Sexting Motivations and Concerns About Their Children's Sexting Involvement: Fall ConsumerStyles Survey, 2018 and 2019.

Sexting is associated with a range of negative outcomes among youth. While parents and caregivers can play a critical role in the prevention of youth risk behaviors, nationally representative research has yet to examine U.S. caregivers' perceptions of youth's sexting motivations to help inform sexting risk prevention efforts. Using 2018 and 2019 Fall ConsumerStyles online panel survey data (N = 1,034), this study estimated and examined U.S. caregivers' perceptions of youth's sexting motivations and the associations of such perceptions with concerns about their children (ages 10-17) getting and sharing sexts (sexual messages, photos, videos). Weighted percentages were calculated to describe caregivers' perceptions of youth's sexting motivations. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between caregivers' perceptions and concerns about youth's sexting. Results suggest that many caregivers perceive youth sext because they think it is harmless (72.79%), they want to be popular or boast (70.51%), they have low self-esteem (52.00%), and/or it is part of their sexual exploration process (49.05%). Fewer caregivers perceived that youth sext because they want revenge (21.80%) or to harm others (16.06%). Caregivers' concerns about their children getting and sharing sexts were related to perceiving that youth sext because of low self-esteem, sexual exploration processes, or to harm others. The perception that youth sext because they want to be popular or boast was related to concern about youth getting but not sharing sexts. Odds of concern were significantly higher among caregivers from some racial/ethnic subgroups. Findings can inform sexting prevention efforts that include caregivers.

Are all luxury guests the same? A benefit segmentation of 5-star hotel customers

PurposeThis research aims at identifying segments of luxury guests based on the benefits they seek when staying at 5-star hotels. The study also wants to investigate whether ethics and sustainability have a role in differentiating the segments.Design/methodology/approachAn online panel survey allowed the collection of 508 responses with participants from Switzerland that spent at least one night in a 5-star hotel between 2022 and 2023. The survey asked about perceived benefits, sustainable tourist behavior, preferred hotel green practices, trip-related factors and socio-demographics. Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to group participants on the benefits identified via exploratory factor analysis. The other variables were used for segment profiling.FindingsResults show the existence of three customer segments for 5-star hotels: the ethical enthusiast, the unconcerned aesthete and the practical connoisseur. These differ in the importance they assign to ethical, social and symbolic benefits, as well as functional service benefits. The relevance of sustainability in the luxury hotel experience is stronger for the ethical enthusiast.Practical implicationsLuxury hotel managers should highlight sustainable practices on social media to attract ethical enthusiasts. In addition, marketing content customization should be used to appeal to the benefits and profile of each identified segment.Originality/valueThis is the first study that provides a benefit segmentation of luxury hotel guests, and it is also the first research that considers the role of sustainability and ethics in differentiating these customers.

Dishonesty is linked with the spread of infectious diseases

This paper investigates the link between dishonesty and the spread of COVID-19 infections. In an online experiment and panel survey, 2,723 Germans completed an incentivized coin-tossing task in March 2020 and reported their infection status in four subsequent survey waves up until December 2021. We find that individuals who are most likely dishonest in the coin-tossing task at the onset of the pandemic, as they report the highest number of winning coin tosses, are more than twice as likely to get a future COVID-19 infection than the sample mean. Respondents who are most likely to have reported dishonestly also engage more in behaviors that increase the risk of becoming infected and of transmitting the infection relative to likely honest respondents. Hence, we postulate that differences in preferences and norm compliance are underlying determinants that affect behavior in the experiment and in the field. We observe a similar relationship at the country level between an incentivized measure of civic honesty and excess deaths due to COVID-19 in 22 OECD countries.

Learning from YouTube? The role of exposure to partisan YouTube channels and news literacy in political learning during the South Korean general election campaign

ABSTRACT This study examined whether exposure to partisan YouTube channels, a soft-format journalistic content for partisans, can promote learning effects and how news literacy moderates these effects. Using online panel survey data (N = 808), findings revealed that spending more time viewing partisan YouTube channels led to lower knowledge of hard news (i.e. factual information about the electoral system and campaign slogans) but higher knowledge of soft news (i.e. human-interest-based information). However, individuals with higher news literacy showed an increase in hard news knowledge but a decrease in soft news knowledge as their time spent viewing partisan YouTube channels increased.

The use of digital tools in forest tourism and recreation - Experiences from Warsaw agglomeration in Poland

Tourism and recreation in forest areas around large urban agglomerations are becoming increasingly important and pose major management challenges in terms of sustainability, environmental impact and balancing the needs of visitors with conservation efforts. Digital tools are critical to the planning and management of suburban forests as they improve data collection, enable efficient resource allocation and enhance the visitor experience through better navigation and information dissemination. The aim of our work was to find out whether people visiting urban and suburban forests in Warsaw consciously plan their visits to forest areas, what ICT tools they use during and after a forest visit, and whether they share their experiences related to forest recreation on social media after the visit. The research focused on urban and suburban forests in the Warsaw metropolitan area, Poland. Data on visitors’ characteristics, recreation habits and digital skills were collected in an online panel survey in November 2023 (n = 1413). The results showed that respondents most frequently visited forest areas around Warsaw 2–3 times a month and several times a year. The vast majority of respondents planned their visits directly on the day of the trip (34.96 %) and used their own knowledge and experience when planning their trip to the forest. More than half of respondents (69 %) stated that they use various types of digital tools when visiting forest areas, most commonly smartphones with GPS functionality. Most respondents stated that they had advanced (43.38 %) or at least advanced (32.06 %) knowledge of using digital tools. 39.49 % of respondents stated that they do not use the internet to share information about their forest visits. The research results presented in the sentence indicate the complexity of using digital tools in the management of outdoor recreation and tourism. On the one hand, our research clearly shows that digital tools are an integral part of modern outdoor recreation and tourism management and provide valuable insights, on the other hand, most respondents planned their visits directly on the day of departure, relying mainly on their own knowledge and experience, rather than on digital tools. This knowledge can be used to develop forest management strategies, environmental education, monitoring tourist flows and promoting responsible recreation worldwide. Further research is needed to analyse the use of digital tools in digital forest recreation.

How much for whom? Explaining preferences for welfare benefits to short-time workers and the unemployed

In response to labour-market crises, governments routinely adopt ‘short-time’ work schemes which supplement the incomes of workers who might otherwise be laid off. Such schemes increase the number of welfare recipients but could also lead to increased competition among different types of welfare claimants. We draw on data from an online panel survey fielded in Austria during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) to study individual preferences for financially supporting both short-time workers and the unemployed. We find that individuals prefer higher welfare benefits for low-income recipients and for those on short-time work compared to high-income recipients and those in unemployment. While we find cross-sectionally that these differences are related to individuals’ socio-economic position, we do not find longitudinal evidence that people adapt their preferences following switches in and out of different benefit programmes. Focusing on social beliefs as drivers of preferences, we find that negative attitudes towards the unemployed decrease preferences targeted at low income-earners. We conclude that long-term individual characteristics and attitudes rather than short-term changes in circumstances remain central to explaining benefit preferences under a dualised welfare regime during a labour-market crisis.

Social trust and the winner-loser gap

The electoral winner-loser gap literature has shown sharp differences between citizens who vote for winning and losing options in key indicators of political support. In this article, we claim that the influence of election results can extend beyond the political domain and reach citizens’ level of social trust. Indeed, elections can reveal to citizens who voted for the winning option that their preferences are aligned with the majority opinion of society, while it signals the opposite to electoral losers. We hypothesize that this contrast will trigger a gap in the level of social trust between winners and losers, and that this gap will be larger among politically engaged voters relative to those more disinterested in political affairs. To contrast our hypotheses, we conducted two online panel surveys with a pre-post electoral design during two recent elections in Chile. Estimates from Two-way Fixed Effects regression models support our main theoretical expectations.

Opportunities for plain packaging of tobacco products in the Philippines: results of a nationwide online survey.

This study aimed to contribute to local research evidence to promote the implementation of plain packaging of tobacco products in the Philippines. The study aimed to assess Filipinos' perception of the effectiveness of plain packaging and their readiness by assessing the potential impact of plain packaging. We conducted a nationwide geographically representative online panel survey with a sample size of 2,000 Filipinos. The survey recruited respondents 18-65 years old and residing in the Philippines, with 500 respondents each from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We showed respondents six different mock-ups of cigarette packs in plain packaging, with two sizes of graphic health warnings (50 and 75%) and three plain packaging colors (black, white, and Pantone 448C). Using five-point Likert scales, participants rated their agreement with 18 items assessing readiness and rationales for plain packaging and 54 items related to pack design (9 items for 6 pack designs). The study showed that Filipinos recognize the value of adopting plain packaging with larger graphic health warning labels on tobacco products in the Philippines. Both non-smokers and smokers agreed that plain packaging has the potential to reduce the attractiveness and appeal of packs, prevent advertisement and promotion of tobacco products, reduce the ability of tobacco products to mislead consumers, increase the noticeability and effectiveness of the pictorial health warnings, increase recall of the pictorial health warnings, affect consumer perceptions of the attractiveness of the tobacco products and their relative safety, reduce youth experimentation with the use of tobacco products, prevent the use of tobacco brand variants as a promotional tool, prevent branding targeted toward youth, promote quitting among current users, and to more clearly inform consumers about the harmful effects of tobacco use. We recommend that policymakers pursue plain packaging as legislation or as part of a reform of the Philippines' graphic health warnings law. The law should target tobacco products sold in the Philippines.

COVID-19 and speeding: Results of population-based survey of ontario drivers

Introduction: During COVID-19, increased speeding was observed in many jurisdictions. Yet, evidence is limited on what factors predicted increased speeding during the pandemic. This study’s purpose was to examine speeding, and person and situation factors associated with increased speeding since the start of the pandemic. Methods: An online panel survey sampled 1,595 drivers using sex, age, and region quota sampling and weighting to approximate the Ontario, Canada adult population. Measures included: (1) person factors: socio-demographics (age, sex, region); psychological trait of risk propensity (Competitive Attitudes Toward Driving Scale (CATDS)); psychological states (distress - general and COVID-19-related); and behaviors (kilometers driven, alcohol use, police stops and collisions); and (2) COVID-19-related situation factors: perceived changes in (traffic volume, police enforcement). Results: 67.2% of respondents reported speeding; 7.2% reported increased speeding since the start of the pandemic. Bivariate analyses indicated that person factors of younger age, male sex, higher CATDS, higher distress, more alcohol use, more kilometers traveled, police stops, and collisions since the start of the pandemic were associated with increased speeding. Situation factor of perceived less traffic volume since the start of the pandemic was associated with increased speeding. Logistic regression analysis identified odds of reported increased speeding during the pandemic was significantly higher for drivers with higher scores on the CATDS, higher kilometers traveled, and more alcohol use during the pandemic. Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher risk propensity as well as the more kilometers driven and increased alcohol consumption were risk factors for increased speeding. Practical Applications: COVID-19-related factors of lower traffic volume and enforcement are less predictive of increased speeding than driver personality and pandemic-related behaviors of more driving and drinking. Interventions to reduce speeding still need to focus on these person factors through education, enforcement, and strong sanctions for speeding.

Comparing individual and collective valuation of ecosystem service tradeoffs: A case study from montane forests in southern California, USA

Accounting for the tradeoffs and importance urban, disadvantaged communities place on ecosystem services has implications for the management of nearby forests. Although stated preference valuation approaches are often used, they are based on an individual’s perspective and rarely account for collective or societal values. Thus, alternative methods are needed to capture this dichotomy from urban communities who may not even be aware of these benefits to themselves or society at-large. We explored individual and collective importance of, and tradeoffs for, ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (ED) by urban residents living near montane forests in greater Los Angeles, California, USA. Using an online panel survey, individual (I-rationality) versus collective (We-rationality) scenarios, best-worst scaling (BWS) choice experiments, and latent class analyses, we ranked the importance and tradeoffs among ES-ED attributes tonearby residents based on the frequency of visits to montane forests as well as Hispanic ethnicity. Results show statistically significant tradeoffs and differences in importance rankings between individual versus collective valuation scenarios. Under the individual valuation scenario, non-Hispanics highly ranked the high forest density indicator, which has implications for wildfire EDs to montane forests and communities. Gender and income were more influential sociodemographic factors affecting importance for water and recreation-related ES than was education. Our BWS and econometric methods, attributes, and importance rankings can facilitate participatory processes with diverse urban communities and designing more effective policies and management guidelines. This approach canalso more inclusively, and equitably, account for the tradeoffs and values that nearby urban communities place on ES/ED from Wildland-Urban Interface forests.

When ethics are compromised: Understanding how employees react to corporate moral violations

This study investigated how employees react to corporate moral violations against external stakeholders, such as customers, the community, and the environment. Drawing from the deonance theory, we examined the relationships between employees' perceptions of corporate moral violations, their moral emotions (anger and sympathy), and their moral actions (external whistleblowing and compensating behavior) when they witness their company's ethical transgressions targeting external stakeholders. In addition, the study examined the moderating effects of employee-oriented corporate social responsibility and perceived moral violation intentionality on the impact of moral violation on employees’ emotional and behavioral reactions. The proposed model was tested using an online survey panel of 417 full-time U.S. workers. The results mostly supported the hypotheses, indicating that perceived corporate moral violation interacted with employee-oriented CSR and moral violation intentionality to affect employees' anger and sympathy, which, in turn, influenced their moral actions.