Understanding Of Public Attitudes Research Articles

Fearing the disease and fearing the vaccine – what drives choices concerning influenza and COVID-19 immunization in Poland

Vaccination is one of the greatest healthcare achievements and one the most important scientific developments of the human civilization. Epidemiological status and population’s attitude towards vaccination has been evolving rapidly in recent years. The main goal of this article is to assess and compare people’s approach towards influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to identifying the most prevalent information sources concerning both the former and the latter. As a research method, data obtained from 150 online surveys submitted by respondents were analysed. The results suggest connection between COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. The study was designed to provide a better understanding of public attitudes in favour as well as against the vaccinations. The results obtained regarding the public views on influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations can be pointed out as an additional value derived from the research.

Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of an Attitude toward Artificial Intelligence Scale (AIAS-4) among Peruvian Nurses.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various aspects of daily life has sparked growing interest in understanding public attitudes toward this technology. Despite advancements in tools to assess these perceptions, there remains a need for culturally adapted instruments, particularly in specific contexts like that of Peruvian nurses. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the AIAS-4 in a sample of Peruvian nurses. An instrumental design was employed, recruiting 200 Peruvian nurses. The Attitude toward Artificial Intelligence in Spanish (AIAS-S), a cultural and linguistic adaptation of the AIAS-4, involved data analysis using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and invariance tests. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed a unidimensional factor structure with an excellent model fit (χ2 = 0.410, df = 1, p = 0.522, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.00). The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.94, ω = 0.91). Tests of invariance from configural to strict confirmed that the scale is stable across different demographic subgroups. The AIAS-S proved to be a psychometrically solid tool for assessing attitudes toward AI in the context of Peruvian nurses, providing evidence of validity, reliability, and gender invariance. This study highlights the importance of having culturally adapted instruments to explore attitudes toward emerging technologies in specific groups.

Public Opinions and Attitudes toward Noninvasive Prenatal Testing on Reddit: Content and Sentiment Analysis

Introduction: Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can be used to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities early in pregnancy. As eligibility criteria broaden and screening targets expand, gauging public acceptability of NIPT becomes increasingly important. Leveraging social media as a rich source of public discourse, the purpose of this study was to understand public opinions and attitudes toward NIPT on the social media platform Reddit. Methods: We applied content and natural language processing techniques (i.e., sentiment analysis) to textual data collected from 4 Reddit communities focusing on the NIPT content posted from September 2012 to September 2022 (367 posts and 7,822 comments in total). Results: Content analysis findings indicated that social media users consider NIPT to be worthwhile. Reasons NIPT was perceived to be not worthwhile related to unwanted anxiety, and the fact that NIPT results would not change anything about their approach to pregnancy were also expressed. The sentiment analysis identified more positive than negative emotions; the mean sentiment scores ranged from 0.48 to 1.22, depending on the specific Lexicon used. Specific emotions (i.e., trust, fear) were also identified. Conclusion: Our novel approach to understanding public perception and attitudes toward NIPT yielded results that are consistent with conventional patient-oriented research methods. These findings may not only contribute to ongoing improvements in prenatal patient care, research, and policy but also indicate that sentiment analysis applied to social media data can serve as a suitable means to assess public acceptability of NIPT, particularly as public dialogue on this topic increases over time.

An Italian Validation of the 5-Item Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ): A Useful Tool for Rapid Assessment of Stigma, Acceptance, and Tolerance

Stigma negatively impacts individuals, families, and communities, affecting relationships, education, and employment and leading to an additional burden on mental health. Assessing public attitudes towards people with mental health conditions is crucial, especially in terms of public health. Therefore, the Attitudes to Mental Illness Questionnaire (AMIQ) was validated and adapted to the Italian cultural context. Translation followed four phases, involving bilingual speakers, comparison, back-translation, and expert review. In the pre-test phase, the questionnaire was administered to 21 participants anonymously. The validation test involved 213 subjects. Statistical analyses included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and McDonald’s Omega and Cronbach’s alpha to assess the internal consistency. The results indicate good internal consistency (Omega = 0.71; Alpha = 0.72), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFI = 0.971) validated the questionnaire’s construct. The study’s findings align with the original validation, underscoring the questionnaire’s robustness. Overall, understanding public attitudes is crucial for public health interventions combating stigma and fostering positive attitudes.

Energy system changes in the agricultural sector: testing a value-congruent communication approach to foster positive attitudes

Multiple sectors, including agriculture, are subject to decarbonization and wide-ranging system changes. With a growing distance between agriculture and the public, communicating changes and fostering public acceptance as crucial factors for the success of these changes has become challenging. Therefore, understanding public attitudes towards emerging system changes in unfamiliar sectors helps identify appropriate communication strategies and provides information about possible responses from different stakeholders. To address the scarcity of studies on system changes in agriculture and their acceptability, a multidimensional evaluation of attitudes was undertaken using a factorial survey to test the utility of value-congruent information for enhancing positive attitudes. Electrical field cultivation (EFC) served as a case example for one potential energy system change in agriculture. The data were collected via an open scientific survey panel in Germany (N = 300) using a written vignette in the form of a newspaper article; different benefit foci and hypotheses were tested using path analysis. Although the different benefit foci did not reveal significant differences, problem awareness and knowledge were found to predict positive attitudes toward EFC. For once, results highlight the need to foster overall problem awareness for fossil fuels to garner public support for various pathways. Additionally, results underscore the perceived lack of personal affectedness by transition pathways as a barrier to responding to communication strategies, specifically in unfamiliar sectors such as agriculture. The study outlines the need for stakeholders to design communication strategies under consideration of fostering personal affectedness and overall problem understanding.

Attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and the need for empowered changes

ABSTRACT In order to understanding public attitudes towards people with disabilities in Greenland and analyse how to facilitate further empowerment, a national survey was produced in 2020. The results from the survey showed a clear difference in attitudes towards people with either physical or mental disabilities. The survey ‘Holdninger til Handicap’ (attitudes towards disabilities), which was carried out by Tilioq (the spokesperson institution for people with disabilities) and Ilisimatusarfik Centre for Arctic Welfare, included almost 1,000 responses. Respondents had a more positive view of people with physical disabilities than those with mental disabilities. Furthermore, the survey highlights a prejudice among respondents in relation to dating or having intimate relationships with a person with a disability or mental disability. Despite the respondents’ divided view of having an intimate relationship with people with disabilities, there was more openness to accepting people with a physical disability in a position of power (e.g. politicians or managers). However, the respondents were not willing to accept people with mental disabilities in positions of power. The study in Greenland is the first to explore barriers and attitudes towards people with disabilities in non-intimate and intimate social relationships and power relationships. The study provided knowledge to support decision-makers and NGOs in informing society in general about physical and mental disabilities and the rights of disabled people in Greenland in relation to empowerment and further inclusion.

"Evaluation of The Public's Recognition, Approval, And Perspectives On Renewable Energy In Panvel"

This study addresses the critical role of public sentiment in shaping energy portfolios and policies, with a focus on the often-neglected grassroots perspectives in developing nations. Conducted in Panvel, the research surveyed 1000 respondents from urban and rural areas, revealing strong approval (73%) for renewable energy technologies and a widespread belief (91%) in their potential to reduce electricity costs. Emphasizing the need for a more inclusive energy policy approach, the study highlights a high level of awareness (69.5%) among Panvel residents. The findings underscore the importance of understanding public attitudes to inform effective and democratic energy policy formulation, shedding light on the significance of a holistic approach that considers both urban and rural perspectives.

Understanding Public Attitudes and Willingness to Share Commercial Data for Health Research: Survey Study in the United Kingdom.

Health research using commercial data is increasing. The evidence on public acceptability and sociodemographic characteristics of individuals willing to share commercial data for health research is scarce. This survey study investigates the willingness to share commercial data for health research in the United Kingdom with 3 different organizations (government, private, and academic institutions), 5 different data types (internet, shopping, wearable devices, smartphones, and social media), and 10 different invitation methods to recruit participants for research studies with a focus on sociodemographic characteristics and psychological predictors. We conducted a web-based survey using quota sampling based on age distribution in the United Kingdom in July 2020 (N=1534). Chi-squared tests tested differences by sociodemographic characteristics, and adjusted ordered logistic regressions tested associations with trust, perceived importance of privacy, worry about data misuse and perceived risks, and perceived benefits of data sharing. The results are shown as percentages, adjusted odds ratios, and 95% CIs. Overall, 61.1% (937/1534) of participants were willing to share their data with the government and 61% (936/1534) of participants were willing to share their data with academic research institutions compared with 43.1% (661/1534) who were willing to share their data with private organizations. The willingness to share varied between specific types of data-51.8% (794/1534) for loyalty cards, 35.2% (540/1534) for internet search history, 32% (491/1534) for smartphone data, 31.8% (488/1534) for wearable device data, and 30.4% (467/1534) for social media data. Increasing age was consistently and negatively associated with all the outcomes. Trust was positively associated with willingness to share commercial data, whereas worry about data misuse and the perceived importance of privacy were negatively associated with willingness to share commercial data. The perceived risk of sharing data was positively associated with willingness to share when the participants considered all the specific data types but not with the organizations. The participants favored postal research invitations over digital research invitations. This UK-based survey study shows that willingness to share commercial data for health research varies; however, researchers should focus on effectively communicating their data practices to minimize concerns about data misuse and improve public trust in data science. The results of this study can be further used as a guide to consider methods to improve recruitment strategies in health-related research and to improve response rates and participant retention.

Consumers perceptions about the welfare of farm animals in Colombia

Introduction. Research focused on listening and understanding public attitudes towards farm animal welfare is proliferating globally. Objective. To determine how consumers in Colombia perceive the welfare of farm animals and socio-demographic factors associated with such perceptions. Materials and methods. A descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was done through the implementation of a cross-sectional national online survey, conducted from September to October-2021, to obtain information on the knowledge and attitudes of consumers (≥18 years) in Colombia regarding farm animal welfare, as well as socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, education, occupation, location, growing-up environment, level of contact with livestock farms, and diet). Logistic and multinomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of demographic factors with the level of importance given to animal welfare (AW), perceptions about needs, behavior, and sentience in farm animals, and perceptions about the state and promotion of AW in Colombia. Results. Responses from 798 participants were included in the analysis, 85.57 % saw AW as a concept that refers to how to treat animals and improve their quality of life. The level of importance given to AW was 9.78±0.85 (scale from 0 to 10) and was associated with words such as health, food, caring, respect, and comfort. Sex, age, education, level of contact with a farm, and growing-up in rural areas significantly influenced the opinions regarding the concept of AW and the promotion of farm animal welfare in Colombia. Conclusion. The participants showed concern about farm animal welfare. The differences found associated with the different socio-demographic factors can be used as a basis for formulating education and empowerment strategies that help modulate changes in the way animals are seen, and what welfare means and what it implies.

Comparison of public attitudes toward five alternative proteins in Japan

Alternative proteins (or alternative meats) have attracted much recent attention from the food sector and the public. Although many studies have investigated public attitudes toward alternative proteins in Western countries, there have been few such surveys in Japan. Additionally, relatively few analyses have compared between ones of different alternative proteins. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate Japanese attitudes toward the alternative proteins of insects, plant-based meat, cultured meat, milk alternatives, and microalgae. We conducted an online questionnaire survey (N = 5,000) with respondents from all over Japan. Results showed that social acceptance of plant-based meat was the highest (70.2%), followed by microalgae (57.8%) and milk alternatives (50.8%) and social acceptance of insect protein was the lowest (19.5%), followed by cultured meat (40.9%). Our comparative analysis of image associations showed that insect protein had a distinctly negative image among the alternative proteins. Further, our survey found that the level of scientific interest was the critical common factor in determining the attitudes toward these foods. Daily consumption of foods, age and gender affected the attitudes toward various alternative proteins. More than 40.0% of participants wanted labeling regulation for all alternative proteins by the government, in a relatively similar pattern among different types of alternative proteins. Our results would contribute to understanding public attitudes toward alternative proteins, which is helpful in practicing science communication for the meat industry, food sectors, and policymakers.

US Adults’ Likelihood to Participate in Dementia Prevention Clinical Trials: Results from the National Poll on Healthy Aging

AbstractBackgroundRecruitment to dementia prevention clinical trials is challenging, and participants are not representative of US adults at risk. To inform future recruitment strategies, the field needs a better understanding of public attitudes toward dementia prevention research.MethodWe analyzed data from a subset of respondents to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (October 2018 wave), ages 50‐64, who completed a supplementary poll on dementia and brain health. Our primary outcome was likelihood to participate in a dementia prevention clinical trial (collapsed into very/somewhat likely versus not likely). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic and dementia‐related factors (e.g., family history) and likelihood to participate. Among respondents not likely to participate, we examined frequency of reasons endorsed, stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.ResultAmong 1,028 respondents, 44% reported being at least somewhat likely (12% very likely) to participate in a dementia prevention trial. In adjusted analyses, there were no differences in likelihood to participate by sociodemographic characteristics. Factors associated with higher likelihood to participate were higher perceived likelihood to develop dementia [adjusted OR, 2.04 (95% CI, 1.53, 2.72)], family history of dementia [adjusted OR, 1.89 (95% CI, 1.38, 2.57)], and having discussed dementia prevention with a doctor [adjusted OR, 2.31 (95% CI, 1.20, 4.44)]. Among the 570 respondents not likely to participate, 38% did not want to be a guinea pig, 24% did not think dementia would affect them, 22% thought there would be too high a chance for harm, 16% indicated it would take too much time, and 5% reported fear of learning information about oneself. Compared to females, males more frequently endorsed that dementia would not affect them (28% versus 20%; p = 0.03). No other differences among demographic groups were observed.ConclusionIn this study, perceived risk of dementia, family history, and discussion of prevention with a doctor were associated with likelihood to participate in a dementia prevention clinical trial, whereas sociodemographic factors including race/ethnicity were not. This suggests that campaigns focused on dementia risk and prevention may be effective tools to improve enrollment rates, regardless of target community.

Impacts of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) on the Livelihood of Rural Communities in Pakistan and Understanding Public Attitudes towards Wild Boars.

Conservation goals can only be best achieved when there is firm support and cooperation from locals, especially in emerging economies where poor communities often bear most of the cost of human-wildlife conflicts (HWCs). In this study, we explored the economic losses caused by wild boars in two districts, i.e., the Peshawar district and the Nowshera district, in north-western Pakistan. Between May and June 2022, 589 respondents from 53 villages were interviewed. The results revealed that the wild boar was chiefly involved in crop raiding, causing an annual economic loss of USD 12,030 (USD 20.42/household). The highly raided crops included maize (40.24%), followed by wheat (24.95%), vegetables (22.65%), and sugarcane (6.29%). Wild boars were also held accountable for orchard damages. Most people consider the wild boar a common species in the area and want it completely eliminated. We believe that the increasing wild boar population is alarming and should be noticed. The government should collaborate with the local communities to use innovative methods to deter wild boars. Compensation schemes for crop damages should be launched. Moreover, the regular investigation of the wild boar population size and their carrying capacities should be enlisted as integral parts of wildlife management in the area.

For Crown and country: ethnic nationalism and support for the monarchy in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia

The Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand publics have long been divided on the issue of whether their countries should remain constitutional monarchies or become republics. A maturing sense of nationhood in each country has spurred debate as to the continuing relevance of remaining constitutional ties with Britain. This article aims to test whether support toward monarchy is explained by ethnic nationalism, a conception of nationhood founded on cultural unity. To do so, we rely on national electoral studies, covering the period from 1964 to 2021. This data allows for a fine-grained description of the attitudes toward monarchy among various sub-groups. Our findings suggest that reluctance to break away from the monarchy can be understood as part of a nationalist response to growing ethnic diversity and an accompanying perception of cultural threat. These findings contribute to a better understanding of public attitudes toward the monarchy in three Commonwealth countries.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY IN MALAYSIA

This study examined the relationship between public risk perception, public awareness, public knowledge and public adaptation towards climate change policies in Malaysia, with attitude towards climate change as the mediator. This study adopted selfadministered online questionnaires to collect inputs from Malaysians across all states. A total of 200 usable data was analysed in this study. The SPSS was used for the descriptive statistics analysis and SmartPLS was used for the measurement model and structural model analysis. Based on the findings, the results show that public risk perception has a significant effect on public adaptation towards climate change. Besides, public attitude mediates the relationship between public risk perception and adaptation towards climate change policy. These results will be useful for the government and industries in understanding public perceptions and attitudes towards climate change policies initiated by the government. Thus, it provides insights for the government in formulating climate change policy.

Is the American Public Really Turning Away from Democracy? Backsliding and the Conceptual Challenges of Understanding Public Attitudes

Recent scholarship has warned that the American public is turning away from democracy, with many focusing on the role of polarization in driving these trends. While these studies devote a great deal of attention to conceptualizing and measuring polarization, however, there is much less attention to the concept of democracy itself. As a result, they encounter several problems: First, lack of attention to the categorical and contextual differences between various democratic transgressions can lead to misleading findings. Second, slippage between macro and micro level analysis of backsliding can make it difficult to draw solid inferences about attitudes. Finally, lack of attention to contestation within the concept of democracy obscures a different kind of regime contention reflected in public attitudes. These problems confound efforts to understand whether the American public is truly turning away from democracy and point to the need for greater collaboration among scholars from different intellectual traditions and methodological orientations.

Sustainability concerns are key to understanding public attitudes toward woody biomass for energy: A survey of Danish citizens

Woody biomass energy makes up a large share of renewable energy consumption in the EU, and the largest share in countries like Denmark. However, little is known about how the public perceive it. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based survey of the public in Denmark focusing on attitudes toward woody biomass for energy. The main findings are that, while more people favor than oppose it, a large proportion are undecided about the use of woody biomass. The survey also revealed a lack of knowledge about this energy source. A Best-Worst Scaling methodology revealed that Danes prioritize environmental sustainability concerns – namely biodiversity loss, the hindering of the development of other renewable energy sources and the climate change mitigation potential of woody biomass – over societal and/or economic ones when it comes to the promotion of woody biomass. Finally, it was found that concern about climate change, belief in the mitigation potential of woody biomass, and being younger explained the formation of positive attitudes toward woody biomass. Policy makers aiming to take public concerns into account in discussions about Denmark's energy future should focus more on minimizing the negative environmental impacts associated with woody biomass rather than on its economic benefits.

COVID-19 and (mis)understanding public attitudes to social security: Re-setting debate.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen emerging debate about a possible shift in 'anti-welfare commonsense' i.e. the orthodoxy previously described in this journal as solidifying negative public attitudes towards 'welfare'. While a shift in attitudes might be ascribed to the circumstances of the crisis it would still be remarkable for such a strongly established orthodoxy to have changed quite so rapidly. It is appropriate, therefore, to reflect on whether the 'anti-welfare' orthodoxy was in fact as unequivocal as claimed? To address this question, challenges to the established orthodoxy that were emerging pre-pandemic are examined along with the most recently available survey data. This leads to discussion of broader issues relating to understanding attitudes: methodology; 'messiness' and ambivalence of attitudes; attitudes and constructions of deservingness; and following or leading opinion. It is argued that the 'anti-welfare' orthodoxy has always been far more equivocal than claimed, with consequent implications for anti-poverty action and re-setting debate.

Artificial intelligence ELSI score for science and technology: a comparison between Japan and the US

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become indispensable in our lives. The development of a quantitative scale for AI ethics is necessary for a better understanding of public attitudes toward AI research ethics and to advance the discussion on using AI within society. For this study, we developed an AI ethics scale based on AI-specific scenarios. We investigated public attitudes toward AI ethics in Japan and the US using online questionnaires. We designed a test set using four dilemma scenarios and questionnaire items based on a theoretical framework for ethics, legal, and social issues (ELSI). We found that country and age are the most informative sociodemographic categories for predicting attitudes for AI ethics. Our proposed scale, which consists of 13 questions, can be reduced to only three, covering ethics, tradition, and policies. This new AI ethics scale will help to quantify how AI research is accepted in society and which area of ELSI people are most concerned with.

Attitudes to climate change risk: classification of and transitions in the UK population between 2012 and 2020

Strategies for achieving carbon emissions goals presuppose changes in individual behaviour, which can be indirectly nudged by interventions or tailored information but ultimately depend upon individual attitudes. Specifically, the perception that climate change is low risk has been identified as a barrier to participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Therefore, understanding public attitudes towards climate change risk is an important element of reducing emissions. We applied k-means cluster analysis to explore attitudes to climate change risk in the UK population using data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, a national survey running from 2009 to present. We identified three distinct attitude clusters: “Sceptical”, “Concerned”, and “Paradoxical” in both waves 4 (from 2012 to 2014) and 10 (from 2018 to 2020) of this survey. The Sceptical cluster tended to deny the seriousness of climate change and the urgency or even the necessity of dealing with it. The Concerned cluster displayed anxiety about climate change risks and supported action to reduce them. The Paradoxical cluster acknowledged the reality of climate change impacts but did not support actions to mitigate them. We further observed statistical associations between cluster membership and the social characteristics of the participants, including sex, age, income, education, and political affiliation. We also found a temporal stability of cluster structure between the two waves. However, the transition matrices indicated a general transition away from the Sceptical and Paradoxical clusters, and toward the Concerned cluster between wave 4 to wave 10. The findings suggest that more tailored public information campaigns regarding climate change risk may be necessary.

Sustainability Concerns are Key to Understanding Public Attitudes Toward Woody Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source: Results from a Questionnaire Study of the General Public in Denmark

Sustainability Concerns are Key to Understanding Public Attitudes Toward Woody Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source: Results from a Questionnaire Study of the General Public in Denmark