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Nagler RH, Gollust SE, Yzer MC, Vogel RI, Rothman AJ. Sustaining positive perceptions of science in the face of conflicting health information: An experimental test of messages about the process of scientific discovery. Soc Sci Med 2023; 334:116194. [PMID: 37660521 PMCID: PMC10552003 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The public is often exposed to conflicting health information, with evidence of concerning consequences, yet little attention has been paid to identifying strategies that can mitigate its effects. OBJECTIVE The current study tests whether three different approaches to communicating about the process of scientific discovery-a rational appeal using analogical evidence, a rational appeal using testimonial evidence, and a logic-based inoculation approach-could reduce the adverse effects of exposure to conflict by positively framing how people construe the scientific process, increasing their perceived knowledge about the scientific process, and helping them to respond to critiques about the scientific process, which, in turn, might make them less apt to counterargue the science they subsequently encounter in health news stories and other exposures to conflict. METHODS We fielded a survey experiment in May 2022 with a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 1604). RESULTS Providing any of the three messages about science prior to exposure to conflicting health information encouraged both positive construal of science and greater science knowledge perceptions and discouraged counterarguing science, compared to a control condition in which people were only exposed to conflict. Of the three messaging approaches tested, the testimonial evidence message was slightly more effective, but was also considered slightly more accurate, credible, and trustworthy. CONCLUSIONS Developing and implementing messages that describe the process of scientific discovery could prove successful, not only in improving public perceptions of science but perhaps ultimately in better equipping people to make sense of conflicting information and its causes. However, additional research on such strategies is needed, particularly as part of larger interventions with multiple messages across multiple exposures, if they are to have implications for health and science communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah H Nagler
- Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, 111 Murphy Hall, 206 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Sarah E Gollust
- Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware Street SE MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Marco C Yzer
- Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, 111 Murphy Hall, 206 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Rachel I Vogel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, 420 Delaware Street SE MMC 395, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alexander J Rothman
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, N321 Elliot Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Dudley MZ, Squires GK, Petroske TM, Dawson S, Brewer J. The Use of Narrative in Science and Health Communication: A Scoping Review. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2023; 112:107752. [PMID: 37068426 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many people deny science and reject health recommendations despite widely distributed facts and statistics. Didactic science and health communication is often dry, and relies on the false assumption that people make purely evidence-based decisions. Stories can be a powerful teaching tool by capturing attention and evoking emotion. OBJECTIVE We explore the impact and appeal of, and describe best practices for, using narrative (storytelling) versus didactic methods in science and health communication. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT No patients were involved in the review process. METHODS We searched PubMed and Web of Science for articles either: assessing effectiveness of narrative science/health communication; assessing acceptability of (or preference for) narrative science/health communication; giving advice on how best to use narrative; and/or providing science-based explanations for how/why narrative succeeds. RESULTS Narrative science/health communication is effective and appealing for audiences across a variety of topics and mediums, with supporting evidence across fields such as epidemiology, neuroscience, and psychology. Whether narrative or didactic messaging is most effective depends on the topic, audience, and objective, as well as message quality. However, combining narrative with didactic methods is likely to be more effective than using either strategy alone. DISCUSSION Narrative science/health communication merits wider implementation and further research. Narrative communication creates openness to information by delaying the formulation of counterarguments. PRACTICAL VALUE Science and health communicators should collaborate with cultural and storytelling experts, work directly with their target audiences throughout the message development and testing processes, and rely on popular story elements (e.g., first-person point of view, relatable protagonists) to improve the comprehension, engagement, and thoughtful consideration of their intended audience. FUNDING This work was funded by Thirty Meter Telescope, with which two authors (GKS and SD) were affiliated. Otherwise, the funding organization had no role in the study and/or submission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Z Dudley
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Gordon K Squires
- California Institute of Technology / IPAC, 1200 E California Blvd, 315 Keith Spalding, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | | | - Sandra Dawson
- Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Janesse Brewer
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Institute for Vaccine Safety, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, w5041, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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3
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Scherr CL, Lillie H, Ratcliff CL, Krakow M, Liu M, Jensen JD. Are some narratives better than others?: The impact of different narrative forms on adolescents' intentions to text and drive. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2022; 42:2176-2188. [PMID: 35104924 PMCID: PMC9339580 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Psychological reactance theory posits individuals seek to restore freedom when threatened. Communication scholars have hypothesized persuasive messages can constitute threats to freedom. The current study engages questions about the potential for different forms of narratives in public service announcements (PSAs) to trigger freedom threats by examining responses to a PSA campaign that utilized three forms of narrative (celebrity testimonials, peer testimonials, and accident stories) to decrease adolescent texting and driving intentions. Participants (N = 214) watched anti-texting and driving narratives, and completed measures of threat to freedom, anger, negative cognition, and attitudes/intentions toward texting/driving. Compared to celebrity/peer testimonial PSAs, accident stories triggered increased anger and, indirectly, decreased intentions to drive safely. The results also suggest the need for continued examination of the best way to model psychological reactance theory, and the value of further research explicating anger as a mechanism of message effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L. Scherr
- Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Helen Lillie
- Department of Communication, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Melinda Krakow
- School of Public Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Miao Liu
- School of Journalism and Communication, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jakob D. Jensen
- Department of Communication, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Brown G, de Place A. I dream of socializing, sports, and serenity: Imagining a positive future-vaccinated self is associated with better attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 52:JASP12909. [PMID: 35945978 PMCID: PMC9353437 DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments are attempting to vaccinate a large proportion of their adult population against the virus. While many people hurried to receive the vaccine, vaccination rates then started stagnating and governments are searching for solutions to motivate remaining citizens to receive the vaccine. Previous studies show that imagining oneself in the future can motivate health prevention behaviors, but our study is the first to use a future selves paradigm to study vaccination motivators. In two mixed methods studies we examine the effects of imagining of a future-vaccinated self (FVS) on vaccine attitudes, where participants were asked to think about what their life would be like once they had received the COVID-19 vaccine. In Study 1 (n = 114), we coded the most important categories of FVS. Several FVS were identified and related to increased social and leisure activities, reduced negative emotion and societal constraints, possible side effects of the vaccine, and societal changes. In Study 2 (n = 113), we used a 2 × 2 design in which participants' reflections on their FVS were guided or open and visualized from a first- or third-person perspective. The guided condition produced greater acceptance of the vaccine, and the first-person perspective produced greater behavioral intentions to be vaccinated. We discuss the effectiveness of future selves interventions for promoting vaccination in different societal contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genavee Brown
- Department of PsychologyNorthumbria UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Anne‐Laure de Place
- Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale (LAPPS)Université Paris 8 Vincennes ‐ Saint‐DenisSaint‐DenisFrance
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Zhuang J, Guidry A. Does Storytelling Reduce Stigma? A Meta-Analytic View of Narrative Persuasion on Stigma Reduction. BASIC AND APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2022.2039657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley Guidry
- The University of Texas at Austin, Moody College of Communication
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Shaffer VA, Brodney S, Gavaruzzi T, Zisman-Ilani Y, Munro S, Smith S, Thomas E, Valentine KD, Bekker HL. Do Personal Stories Make Patient Decision Aids More Effective? An Update from the International Patient Decision Aids Standards. Med Decis Making 2021; 41:897-906. [PMID: 34027739 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x211011100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article evaluates the evidence for the inclusion of patient narratives in patient decision aids (PtDAs). We define patient narratives as stories, testimonials, or anecdotes that provide illustrative examples of the experiences of others that are relevant to the decision at hand. METHOD To evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of narratives in PtDAs, we conducted a narrative scoping review of the literature from January 2013 through June 2019 to identify relevant literature published since the last International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) update in 2013. We considered research articles that examined the impact of narratives on relevant outcomes or described relevant theoretical mechanisms. RESULTS The majority of the empirical work on narratives did not measure concepts that are typically found in the PtDA literature (e.g., decisional conflict). Yet, a few themes emerged from our review that can be applied to the PtDA context, including the impact of narratives on relevant outcomes (knowledge, behavior change, and psychological constructs), as well as several theoretical mechanisms about how and why narratives work that can be applied to the PtDA context. CONCLUSION Based on this evidence update, we suggest that there may be situations when narratives could enhance the effectiveness of PtDAs. The recent theoretical work on narratives has underscored the fact that narratives are a multifaceted construct and should no longer be considered a binary option (include narratives or not). However, the bottom line is that the evidence does not support a recommendation for narratives to be a necessary component of PtDAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria A Shaffer
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Suzanne Brodney
- Division of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Teresa Gavaruzzi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, Universita degli Studi di Padova Scuola di Psicologia, Padova, Veneto, Italy
| | - Yaara Zisman-Ilani
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah Munro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sian Smith
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Thomas
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Hilary L Bekker
- Institute of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Mehrolia S, Alagarsamy S, Solaikutty VM. Customers response to online food delivery services during COVID-19 outbreak using binary logistic regression. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES 2021; 45:396-408. [PMID: 33362434 PMCID: PMC7753470 DOI: 10.1111/ijcs.12630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to empirically measure the distinctive characteristics of customers who did and did not order food through Online Food Delivery services (OFDs) during the COVID-19 outbreak in India. Data are collected from 462 OFDs customers. Binary logistic regression is used to examine the respondents' characteristics, such as age, patronage frequency before the lockdown, affective and instrumental beliefs, product involvement and the perceived threat, to examine the significant differences between the two categories of OFDs customers. The binary logistic regression concludes that respondents exhibiting high-perceived threat, less product involvement, less perceived benefit on OFDs and less frequency of online food orders are less likely to order food through OFDs. This study provides specific guidelines to create crisis management strategies.
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Gavaruzzi T, Sarlo M, Giandomenico F, Rumiati R, Polato F, De Lazzari F, Lotto L. Assessing emotions conveyed and elicited by patient narratives and their impact on intention to participate in colorectal cancer screening: A psychophysiological investigation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199882. [PMID: 29953535 PMCID: PMC6023155 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the context of colorectal cancer screening, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of different emotion-laden narratives, to investigate the specific emotions elicited at both subjective and physiological levels, and to test the effects of emotions explicitly expressed by the narrative character. Study 1 used a between-participants design comparing four conditions: relief-based narrative, regret-based narrative, control (test-uptake only) narrative, and standard invitation material (no-narrative condition). Study 2 used a mixed design, with the narrative content as a within-participants factor and whether emotions were expressed by the narrative character or not as between-participants factor. The main outcome measures were: intention to undergo testing (Studies 1 and 2), knowledge, risk perception, proportion of informed choices (Study 1), subjective emotional responses, changes in skin conductance, heart rate, and corrugator muscle activity (Study 2). In Study 1, relative to the non-narrative condition (51%), only the relief-based narrative significantly increased intention to undergo testing (86%). Relative to the standard invitation material, the narrative conditions did not decrease knowledge, alter risk perception, or decrease the proportion of informed choices. In Study 2, the relief-based narrative elicited the lowest self-reported negative affect, and received greater implicit attention, as suggested by the larger heart rate decrease. Making the emotions experienced by the narrative character explicit decreased negative affect, as indicated by the lower skin conductance and corrugator responses during reading. Our findings provide support for the use of a relief-based narrative with emotions expressed by the character in addition to the standard information material to promote colorectal cancer screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Gavaruzzi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Michela Sarlo
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Giandomenico
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Rino Rumiati
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Lorella Lotto
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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De Pelsmacker P, Lewi M, Cauberghe V. The Effect of Personal Characteristics, Perceived Threat, Efficacy and Breast Cancer Anxiety on Breast Cancer Screening Activation. Healthcare (Basel) 2017; 5:E65. [PMID: 28953261 PMCID: PMC5746699 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare5040065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to activate women to participate in breast cancer screening programs, a good understanding is needed of the personal characteristics that influence how women can be activated to search for more information, consult friends and doctors, and participate in breast cancer screening programs. In the current study, we investigate the effect of six personal characteristics that have in previous research been identified as important triggers of health behavior on breast cancer screening activation: Health awareness, Need for Cognition, Affect Intensity, Breast cancer knowledge, Topic involvement, and the Perceived breast cancer risk. We test the effect of these factors on four activation variables: intention of future information seeking, forwarding the message to a friend, talking to a doctor, and actual breast cancer screening attendance. Additionally, we try to unravel the process by means of which the antecedents (the six personal characteristics) lead to activation. To that end, we test the mediating role of perceived breast cancer threat, perceived efficacy of screening, and the evoked breast cancer anxiety as mediators in this process. The data were collected by means of a cross-sectional survey in a sample of 700 Flemish (Belgium) women who were invited to the free-of-charge breast cancer population screening. Screening attendance of this sample was provided by the government agency in charge of the organisation of the screening. Health awareness, affects intensity, topic involvement, and perceived risk have the strongest influence on activation. Breast cancer anxiety and perceived breast cancer threat have a substantial mediation effect on these effects. Efficacy perceptions are less important in the activation process. Increased health awareness and a higher level of perceived risk lead to less participation in the free of charge population based breast screening program. Implications for theory and practice are offered. The limitation of the study is that only a standard invitation message was used. In future research, other types of awareness and activation messages should be tested. Additionally, the analysis could be refined by investigating the potentially different activation process in different subgroups of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick De Pelsmacker
- Department of Marketing, Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Martine Lewi
- Department of Marketing, Faculty of Applied Economics, University of Antwerp, Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Veroline Cauberghe
- Department of Communication Sciences, Ghent University, Korte Meer 7-11, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
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Kiviniemi MT, Ellis EM, Hall MG, Moss JL, Lillie SE, Brewer NT, Klein WM. Mediation, moderation, and context: Understanding complex relations among cognition, affect, and health behaviour. Psychol Health 2017; 33:98-116. [DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1324973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marc T. Kiviniemi
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Erin M. Ellis
- Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Marissa G. Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Moss
- Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sarah E. Lillie
- Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Noel T. Brewer
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William M.P. Klein
- Behavioral Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
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Perrier MJ, Martin Ginis KA. Changing health-promoting behaviours through narrative interventions: A systematic review. J Health Psychol 2016; 23:1499-1517. [PMID: 27387514 DOI: 10.1177/1359105316656243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this review was to summarize the literature supporting narrative interventions that target health-promoting behaviours. Eligible articles were English-language peer-reviewed studies that quantitatively reported the results of a narrative intervention targeting health-promoting behaviours or theoretical determinants of behaviour. Five public health and psychology databases were searched. A total of 52 studies met inclusion criteria. In all, 14 studies found positive changes in health-promoting behaviours after exposure to a narrative intervention. The results for the changes in theoretical determinants were mixed. While narrative appears to be a promising intervention strategy, more research is needed to determine how and when to use these interventions.
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