On the Social Acceptability of Behavior-Analytic Terms: Crowdsourced Comparisons of Lay and Technical Language

Behavior analysis has a marketing problem. Although behavior analysts have speculated about the problems regarding our technical behavior-analytic terminology and how our terminology has hindered the dissemination of behavior analysis to outsiders, few have investigated the social acceptability of the terminology. The present paper reports the general public's reactions to technical behavioral jargon versus non-technical substitute terms that refer to applied behavior-analytic techniques. Two-hundred participants, all non-behavior analysts, were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and completed a survey on the social acceptability of behavioral jargon and non-technical terms. Specifically, participants rated the acceptability of how the six pairs of terms (technical and non-technical) sounded if the treatments were to be implemented for each of 10 potential populations of clients that behavior analysts typically work with. The results show that, overall, members of the general public found non-technical substitute terms more acceptable than technical behavior-analytic terms. The finding suggests that specialized vocabulary of behavior analysis may create hurdles to the acceptability of applied behavior-analytic services. The implication of these findings suggest the importance of a systematic investigation of listener behavior with respect to behavior analysis terms.

Public perception of air pollution sources across Europe

Air pollution is one of the primary concerns of our society for its effect on human health and the environment. Among the policy measures that can be put in place to limit air pollutant emissions, end-of-pipe technologies and/or regulatory instruments may be implemented through legislative acts. Also, equally important are behavioural measures, requiring citizens' active involvement. The success of any measure to limit pollutant emissions requires the acceptance by the citizens that, in turn, implies a correct perception of the main pollutant emission drivers. We present here the comparison between the public perception of air pollution sources and the real-world situation through a survey carried out in seven European countries and involving 16 101 respondents. Our study shows a dramatic underestimation of the contribution of the agri-food sector to air pollution. This result is common to all respondents in the seven countries examined and only to a small extent depends on gender, age and socio-economic status of the respondents.

Factors associated with the acceptability of government measures to address COVID-19 in Senegal

INTRODUCTION

Three months after the first appearance of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), Senegal recorded its first case on March 2, 2020. Faced with this pandemic, the State reacted quickly with public measures : instituting a curfew, placing a ban on travel between regions, and closing shops and places of worship. This research aims to study the acceptability of these non-pharmaceutical measures by the Senegalese population.

METHOD

This study was a cross-sectional and analytical survey conducted in June and July 2020 among Senegalese over 18 years old. Sampling by the representative quota method was distributed proportionally to age, gender and region. We constructed the questionnaire using the theoretical framework of acceptability of health interventions. Through a telephone call center synchronised to an internet server, we collected data on personal characteristics, knowledge of the disease, trust in information sources, trust in government, concern about the pandemic, and the seven dimensions of acceptability. We performed descriptive analysis and structural equation with R software version 4.0.2.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 813 individuals. The average age was 34.7 years ( ± 14.2 years). They were predominantly male (54.6 %), with no education (42.6 %). The increased level of knowledge of the disease was associated with confidence in national media information sources provided by the administrative and health authorities (β=0.11, p<0.01). The increase in the level of trust in the government in response to COVID-19 was positively related to the acceptability of curfew (β=0.16, p<0.001), travel ban between regions (β=0.11, p<0.001), and closure of places of worship (β=0.1, p<0.01) and markets (β=0.09, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

In Senegal, the acceptability of the measures depended on knowledge of the disease, perception of the risk of the disease, and trust in the government. There is a need to strengthen awareness and risk communication of COVID-19.

Acceptability of a herd immunity-focused, transmission-blocking malaria vaccine in malaria-endemic communities in the Peruvian Amazon: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

A transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV) to prevent malaria-infected humans from infecting mosquitoes has been increasingly considered as a tool for malaria control and elimination. This study tested the hypothesis that a malaria TBV would be acceptable among residents of a malaria-hypoendemic region.

METHODS

The study was carried out in six Spanish-speaking rural villages in the Department of Loreto in the Peruvian Amazon. These villages comprise a cohort of 430 households associated with the Peru-Brazil International Centre for Excellence in Malaria Research. Individuals from one-third (143) of enrolled households in an ongoing longitudinal, prospective cohort study in 6 communities in Loreto, Peru, were randomly selected to participate by answering a pre-validated questionnaire.

RESULTS

All 143 participants expressed desire for a malaria vaccine in general; only 1 (0.7%) expressed unwillingness to receive a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine. Injection was considered most acceptable for adults (97.2%); for children drops in the mouth were preferred (96.8%). Acceptability waned marginally with the prospect of multiple injections (83.8%) and different projected efficacies at 70 and 50% (90.1 and 71.8%, respectively). Respondents demonstrated clear understanding that the vaccine was for community, rather than personal, protection against malaria infection.

DISCUSSION

In this setting of the Peruvian Amazon, a transmission-blocking malaria vaccine was found to be almost universally acceptable. This study is the first to report that residents of a malaria-endemic region have been queried regarding a malaria vaccine strategy that policy-makers in the industrialized world often dismiss as altruistic.

Perspectives on the establishment of a canadian human taphonomic facility: The experience of REST[ES]

REST[ES] is the first Canadian human taphonomic facility (HTF) dedicated to research and training relating to human decomposition in a northern temperate climate. The following paper outlines the measures taken to successfully establish, open and operate this novel Canadian HTF with particular focus on: project team and partnerships, facility location, approvals and permits, infrastructure and social acceptability. It is intended that our experience of establishing REST[ES] may serve as an example to help others with the establishment of future HTFs, thus contributing to the expansion in the global accessibility to human decomposition research and training.

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Establishment experience of REST[ES].

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Difficulties with government approbations.

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Facility infrastructure, health and security measures.

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Body donation program and requirements.

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Social acceptability initiatives.

Exploring polypharmacy with artificial intelligence: data analysis protocol

BACKGROUND

Polypharmacy is common among older adults and it represents a public health concern, due to the negative health impacts potentially associated with the use of several medications. However, the large number of medication combinations and sequences of use makes it complicated for traditional statistical methods to predict which therapy is genuinely associated with health outcomes. The project aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the quality of polypharmacy among older adults with chronic diseases in the province of Québec, Canada.

METHODS

We will use data from the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System (QICDSS). QICDSS contains information about prescribed medications in older adults in Quebec collected over 20 years. It also includes diagnostic codes and procedures, and sociodemographic data linked through a unique identification number for each individual. Our research will be structured around three interconnected research axes: AI, Health, and Law&Ethics. The AI research axis will develop algorithms for finding frequent patterns of medication use that correlate with health events, considering data locality and temporality (explainable AI or XAI). The Health research axis will translate these patterns into polypharmacy indicators relevant to public health surveillance and clinicians. The Law&Ethics axis will assess the social acceptability of the algorithms developed using AI tools and the indicators developed by the Heath axis and will ensure that the developed indicators neither discriminate against any population group nor increase the disparities already present in the use of medications.

DISCUSSION

The multi-disciplinary research team consists of specialists in AI, health data, statistics, pharmacy, public health, law, and ethics, which will allow investigation of polypharmacy from different points of view and will contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical, social, and ethical issues surrounding polypharmacy and its surveillance, as well as the use of AI for health record data. The project results will be disseminated to the scientific community, healthcare professionals, and public health decision-makers in peer-reviewed publications, scientific meetings, and reports. The diffusion of the results will ensure the confidentiality of individual data.

Emerging Adult Perceptions of Cannabis Consumption Post-Legalization: Considering Age and Sex Differences

PURPOSE

Increased access to legalized non-medical cannabis has led to growing concern over the potential adverse health impacts of cannabis consumption among youth and emerging adults. This study explored emerging adult perceptions of cannabis consumption and if perceptions changed based on the age and sex of the cannabis consumer.

METHODS

Canadian emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years (N = 1,424, Mean = 21.23) were randomly assigned to one of six vignettes that varied by age (14 years, 21 years, and 28 years) or sex (male, female) of the cannabis consumer. Participants were asked to rate seven single-item measures on perceived dangerousness, problematic consumption, negative impacts, and level of disapproval related to the vignette character's almost daily cannabis consumption.

RESULTS

The results of seven 2 × 3 factorial analyses of variance revealed a main effect of age on six of seven items, no main effects of sex, and no interactions. Except for social life, participants noted significant differences in harms of cannabis consumption by 14-year-olds, compared to 21-year-olds and 28-year-olds. There were no significant differences in overall perceived dangerousness, problematic consumption, or impact on mental or cognitive health between 21-year-olds and 28-year-olds. Participants perceived cannabis consumption by a 21-year-old to be more harmful to brain development and reported greater disapproval than consumption by a 28-year-old.

DISCUSSION

Emerging adults may appreciate the impacts of cannabis consumption within their age cohort on brain development and perceive greater risks for youth. Further education should focus on the potential cognitive and mental health impacts of cannabis in emerging adults.

The role of public communication in decision making for waste management infrastructure

Modern waste management provision seeks to meet challenging objectives and strategies while reflecting community aspirations and ensuring cost-effective compliance with statutory obligations. Its social acceptability, which affects both what systems (infrastructure) can be put in place and to what extent their implementation will be successful, is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, often not well understood. In light of the growing evidence that decisions to build new infrastructure are often contested by the public, there is a clear need to understand the role of scientific evidence in public perception, particularly as environmental infrastructure delivery is often objected to by the public on environmental grounds. In this paper the need for waste management infrastructure is reviewed, and the way its delivery in the UK has evolved is used as an example of the role of public perception in the planning and delivery of waste facilities. Findings demonstrate the vital role of public communication in waste management infrastructure delivery. Public perception must be taken into account early in the decision making process, with the public informed and engaged from the start. There is a pressing need for people not simply to accept but to understand and appreciate the need for infrastructure, the nature of infrastructure investments and development, the costs and the benefits involved, and the technological aspects. Scientific evidence and literacy have a critical role to play, facilitating public engagement in a process that empowers people, allowing them to define and handle challenges and influence decisions that will impact their lives. Problem ownership, and an increased probability of any solutions proposed being selected and implemented successfully are potential benefits of such approach.

The perception of aquaculture on the Swedish West Coast

Efforts are on the way on the Swedish West Coast to develop the capacity for cultivation of marine resources, notably of kelps. Given that this is a region of great natural and national heritage, public opposition to marine developments has been identified as a possible risk factor. This survey thus sought to shed light on awareness levels, perceptions of different types of aquaculture and on reactions to a scenario depicting future aquaculture developments on the West Coast. When asked about their general opinions of aquaculture, respondents tended to be favourable though a majority chose neutral responses. On the whole, respondents were favourable to the depicted scenario. Finally, it was found that the high-awareness group tended to be more supportive than the low or medium-awareness groups, hinting at the benefits of increasing awareness to reduce public aversion and to support a sustainable development of aquaculture on the Swedish West Coast.

Community and landscape change in southeast Alaska

Since the early 1970s, social science research has addressed issues concerning the nature and distribution of values and uses associated with natural resources. In part, this research has tried to improve our understanding of interconnections between resource management and social and cultural change on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. In 1997, scientists at the Pacific Northwest Research Station (PNW) initiated a number of social science studies in response to information gaps identified while developing the Tongass Land Management Plan. Results presented here summarize findings from studies of traditional ecological knowledge, subsistence use of natural resources, tourism trends and the effects of tourism on communities, and social acceptability of alternative timber harvest practices. Management implications are discussed along with suggestions for further study.

Support for the Development of Technological Innovations: Promoting Responsible Social Uses

How can technological development, economic development, and the claims from society be reconciled? How should responsible innovation be promoted? The "responsible social uses" approach proposed here was devised with these considerations in view. In this article, a support procedure for promoting responsible social uses (RSU) is set out and presented. First, the context in which this procedure emerged, which incorporates features of both the user-experience approach and that of ethical acceptability in technological development, is specified. Next, the characteristic features of the procedure are presented, that is, its purpose, fundamental orientation, and component parts as experimented by partners. Third, the RSU approach is compared with other support approaches and considered in term of how each approach assumes responsible innovation. Briefly, the RSU procedure is a way of addressing the issue of responsible innovation through an effective integration of social concerns.

Recommended Ethical Safeguards on Fertilization of Human Germ Cells Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells Solely for Research Purposes

Production of human fertilized embryos by using germ cells derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) entails ethical issues that differ fundamentally depending on the aim. If the aim is solely to conduct research, then embryo generation, utilization and destruction must respect for the human embryo as having the innate potential to develop into a human being. If the aim is human reproduction, this technology must never be used to manipulate human life, confuse social order, or negatively affect future generations. Researchers should distinguish the aims and then accordingly establish a consensus on the safeguards needed to proceed with scientifically significant and socially accepted research, or otherwise set a moratorium. Currently, in Japan, germ cell production from human PSCs is permitted, whereas fertilization of these germ cells is not. The Japanese Expert Panel on Bioethics in the Cabinet Office has proposed that all of the following conditions must be met to approve fertilization for research purposes: (1) the research is significant for the life sciences and medicine; (2) the benefits or anticipated benefits are socially accepted; (3) human safety is assured; and (4) safeguards are put in place. If fertilization is ethically approved, I recommend the following safeguards: limitation of the purpose to improving conventional ART as an initial step; permitted culture of human embryos until the appearance of the primitive streak; restriction of the number of embryos produced to the minimum necessary; prohibition of transplantation into a human or animal uterus; and provision of human-derived ova that are not required for ART treatment.

Perspectives of New York State residents on deer management, hunting, and predator reintroduction

High white-tailed deer abundance in the United States represents an ecological and human health threat. Reducing deer populations by lethal means and facilitating return of large predators are two potential, but controversial, management options. We used an online questionnaire to measure perspectives on deer management and predator return among a stratified sample of New York State residents. We found widespread acceptance (> 70%) for reducing deer populations using lethal means if doing so would reduce Lyme disease, increase forest regeneration, protect native plants and animals, and improve road safety. Acceptance for shooting more deer was unaffected by ethnicity but strongest among respondents who were older, identified as hunters or conservationists, owned more land, and considered health and safety while answering our questionnaire. Respondents who identified as animal protectionists were least accepting. Restoring regionally extirpated wolves and cougars had limited acceptance (< 30%) but was strongest among those who identified as hunters or conservationists. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, preferences for deer management or predator restoration did not differ among urban and rural respondents. This common ground needs to be reflected in deer management in the state due to legal obligations to represent interests of all residents.

Are Citizens Ready to Make an Environmental Effort? A Study of the Social Acceptability of Biogas in France

Despite the potential benefits of anaerobic digestion in the context of climate change and the need to move towards energy transition, there is a lot of resistance to biogas projects. Using a contingent valuation method, we test the extent to which the socio-economic characteristics of populations influence the environmental effort that people are willing to make for the deployment of biogas in a French region. Our results show that young people and people familiar with the biogas process are more inclined to develop biogas. We also highlight that the educational and location aspects should not be neglected in order to increase environmental effort and promote the adoption and development of biogas.

A social acceptability scale: Validation in the context of government measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal

INTRODUCTION

In March 2020, the government of Senegal introduced a curfew, a ban on travel between regions, the closure of markets, and a ban on attending places of worship to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of research into the response to COVID-19, we developed a scale to measure the social acceptability of these measures.

METHODS

We used Sekhon's theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) to formulate the content of the scale items. We assessed the homogeneity of the scale using Cronbach's Alpha and average interitem correlations. We measured the dimensional properties of the scale using rating scale models. We tested the sensitivity of the scale to sociodemographic characteristics using mixed linear regressions and rating scale models.

RESULTS

The final scale consisted of seven items corresponding to the constructs of acceptability. Analysis performed on data from 813 individuals showed that the scale has satisfactory statistical properties (Cronbach's α > 0.8, Loevinger's coefficient>0.3, intraclass correlation>0.4).

CONCLUSION

This scale was one of the first to test the TFA. The small number of items was advantageous for use under challenging data collection contexts. Measuring the acceptability of public health interventions with this tool can help in their design and implementation.

Evaluation of the odor impact of some environmental gaseous pollutants: calibration of the methodology and preliminary results

During the last decades, it has been observed a growing interest on odor impact because of the frequenter social acceptability problems about energy plants handling and processing stored organic materials (e.g., biogas plants, landfills, farms, distilleries, etc.). In this context, the UNI EN 13725:2004 indicates the "dynamic olfactometry method" as validated, recognized, and adequate measurement procedure for estimating the odor concentration. This protocol is carried out by a panel of specifically trained and selected human receptors, but alternative analytical methodologies are currently under discussion. This work aims to describe the initial steps of a wider research toward the definition of a new analytical protocol for monitoring odor concentration. The alternative methodology is here presented through the implementation of a case study: stored organic materials exploited on an energy plant in Central Italy. The paper describes the preliminary activities related to the survey of the case study (i), the definition of alternative methods and devices for conducting emissions sampling (ii), and the adopted experimental approach (iii). Finally, preliminary results are also presented (iv). The resulting protocol, once validated, could be employed by local authorities to measure both the odor impacts and the effectiveness of specifically designed mitigation strategies.

Exploring the 'Issue-Attention Cycle': Does Length of Time Since Wildfire Predict Social Acceptability of Prescribed Burning?

Social acceptability of environmental management actions, such as prescribed burning used to reduce wildfire risk, is critical to achieving positive outcomes. However, environmental managers often need to implement strategies over a long time period, and sustaining long-term community support can be challenging. Public attention to environmental issues is argued to vary over time, with acceptability of management interventions theorized to decrease with time since experiencing an environmental problem. However, it is unknown whether a person needs to personally experience the problem to maintain support, or if hearing about it in the media is sufficient. In this paper we explore whether acceptability of prescribed burning used to reduce wildfire risk declines with length of time since personally experiencing a wildfire. In a sample of 4390 Australians, acceptability of prescribed burning was not predicted by length of time since personally experiencing a wildfire, or perceptions of wildfire risk. Significant predictors included perceptions of local fuel loads, and of positive and negative impacts of prescribed burning, suggesting addressing these issues may be more effective in maintaining long-term support for wildfire management policies than investing in increasing attention to wildfire risk. This suggests environmental managers can design communication strategies to maintain support for environmental actions even in the absence of an individual personally experiencing the problem the action is designed to address.

Public Attitudes Toward Policy Instruments for Flood Risk Management

Effective flood risk management (FRM) requires a mix of policy instruments that reduces, shares, and manages flood risk. The social acceptability of these policy instruments-the degree of public support or opposition to their use-is an important consideration when designing an optimal mix to achieve FRM objectives. This paper examines public attitudes toward FRM policy instruments based on a national survey of Canadians living in high-risk areas. Respondents were asked their views on flood maps, disaster assistance, flood insurance, flood risk disclosure and liability, and property buyouts. The results indicate that all five policy instruments have high social acceptability, but they must be calibrated to ensure access to flood risk information and achieve a fair distribution of FRM costs among key stakeholders.

A decision-making framework for evaluating environmental tradeoffs in enhancing ecosystem services across complex agricultural landscapes

Decision-making processes to ensure sustainability of complex agro-ecosystems must simultaneously accommodate production goals, environmental soundness, and social relevancy. This means that besides environmental indicators and human activities, stakeholders' perceptions need to be considered in the decision-making process to enable the adoption of mitigation practices. Thus, the decision-making process equates to a multi-criteria and multi-objective problem, requiring additional tools and methods to analyze the possible tradeoffs among decision alternatives based on social acceptability. This study was aimed at establishing a decision support system that integrates hydro-ecologic models and socio-cultural perspectives to identify and assess feasible land management alternatives that can enhance the Kaskaskia River Watershed (KRW) ecosystem services in Illinois (USA). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate the spatio-temporal response of nine environmental predictors to four major management alternatives (crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, modified fertilizer application) based on stakeholder acceptability and environmental soundness, under 32 distinct climate projections. The stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA) was then applied to classify the management alternatives from the least to the most efficient based on three preference schemes: no preference, expert stakeholders' preference, and non-expert stakeholders' preference. Results showed that preference information on watershed ecosystem services is crucial to guide the decision-making process when a broad spectrum of criteria is considered to assess the management alternatives' systemic response. The disparity between expert and non-expert stakeholders' preferences showed different rankings of alternatives across several subcatchments, where the two-year corn one-year soybean rotation scheme was expected to offer the best management alternative to ensure a sustainable agro-production system in the highly cultivated subcatchments of the KRW. In contrast, non-conventional tillage practices were expected to contravene agricultural production, and therefore should be discarded unless combined with complementary measures. This study will enable stakeholders to identify the most suitable management practices to adapt to natural and anthropogenic changes and encourage engagement between government institutions and local communities (multi-stakeholder consensus) to provide a better platform for decision-making.

In Search of "Fertile Ground": How Territorial Characteristics Influence the Social Acceptability of Renewable Energy Projects

Renewable energy (RE) projects are vital to achieving sustainable development in the context of the pressing challenges of climate change and the energy transition. However, despite the global consensus on their importance, RE projects often encounter significant resistance at the local level. This article investigates how territorial characteristics influence the social acceptability of RE projects and explores the concept of fertile ground as a framework for understanding the conditions that foster or hinder local support for such projects. Drawing on theories of regional path dependency and leadership agency, we identify the historical, socioeconomic, cultural and governance factors shaping local attitudes towards RE projects. By employing qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders and the analysis of press articles, we develop a nuanced approach that incorporates key territorial dynamics. Our findings reveal the critical role of historical industrial conflicts, political leadership, place attachment and perceptions of fairness in shaping local acceptability. They also highlight the influence of habituation and saturation effects, which shows that the acceptability of RE projects is not static; rather, it evolves over time in response to local conditions and stakeholder engagement. By situating the fertile ground concept within broader frameworks of social acceptability, this study provides actionable insights to policymakers and project developers seeking to align RE initiatives with local contexts and values.

Behavior Analysis Goes to School: Teacher Acceptability of Behavior-Analytic Language in Behavioral Consultation

Effective communication is a vital component of behavioral consultation. Behavioral consultants (e.g., behavior analysts, school psychologists) are responsible for drafting behavior intervention plans, delivering accessible training, and providing concise and consumable feedback to teachers. Their reliance on technological descriptions to communicate behavioral principles and procedures may yield poor social validity and hinder the consultant-teacher relationship. In this study, we recruited 164 teachers through Amazon Mechanical Turk and administered a survey to (a) evaluate the social acceptability of technical and nontechnical language used in behavioral consultation across a variety of student populations and (b) gain information about teachers' experiences with behavioral consultation. Implications are discussed for training and the provision of behavioral consultation services.

Exposition to xenophobic content and support for right-wing populism: The asymmetric role of gender

This paper studies whether exposure to anti-immigrant sentiment in the online context affects the willingness to support an openly anti-immigration party, and shows how gender moderates the effect. We designed an online experiment in which participants were invited to an online forum to discuss immigration issues. We manipulate the social acceptability of xenophobic views by exposing participants to an increasing proportion of comments with anti-immigrant content. As a proxy for open support for anti-immigrant policies, we ask participants to donate to a well-known German party with a strong anti-immigration discourse: Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany). We find no evidence that exposure to increasing social acceptability of xenophobic content affected the willingness to donate. In an exploratory analysis, we find that women are particularly reluctant to donate after the anti-immigrant comments raised normative concerns. The results can shed light on the heterogeneous effect of counter-normative discourses on support for anti-immigrant parties.