Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting
In Germany, over 60% of people use YouTube as a search engine and watch explainer videos or tutorials at least occasionally. Two studies were conducted to determine how explainer videos can be optimised to promote sustainable minority behaviour such as voluntary carbon offsetting. A typical way to p...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cogitatio
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Media and Communication |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/6028 |
| _version_ | 1797859395332210688 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna Schorn Werner Wirth |
| author_facet | Anna Schorn Werner Wirth |
| author_sort | Anna Schorn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Germany, over 60% of people use YouTube as a search engine and watch explainer videos or tutorials at least occasionally. Two studies were conducted to determine how explainer videos can be optimised to promote sustainable minority behaviour such as voluntary carbon offsetting. A typical way to present information in explainer videos is by using exemplars (the “meet Bob” trope), which can change recipients’ judgements of the frequency of events. When an exemplar is included, the frequency of occurrence can be estimated to be higher, even if the actual base-rate information is given. Therefore, study one (N = 482) tested whether an exemplar could enhance the positive effects of a dynamic descriptive social norm appeal (DSNA), prevent the backfire effects of a static minority DSNA, and examine whether there were any differences depending on the narrative perspective. In study one, we conducted a 2 (narrative perspective: first vs. third person) × 2 (DSNA: static vs. dynamic) × 2 (travel destination: Europe vs. overseas; control factor) between-subjects experiment using six self-produced explainer videos about voluntary carbon offsetting (N = 270). The results show that the narrative perspective, different DSNAs, and the destination had no effect on persuasive outcomes. Study two (N = 270) focused on social norm appeals and supplemented minority DSNAs (DSNA: static vs. dynamic vs. absent) with an injunctive social norm appeal (ISNA: present vs. absent). The results show that a majority injunctive social norm appeal can improve attitudes towards voluntary carbon offsetting and perceived effectiveness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:28:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-04f1f8978d244c458014f386dc99d216 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-2439 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:28:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Media and Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-04f1f8978d244c458014f386dc99d2162023-03-27T11:43:52ZengCogitatioMedia and Communication2183-24392023-03-0111134936010.17645/mac.v11i1.60282971Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon OffsettingAnna Schorn0Werner Wirth1Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandIn Germany, over 60% of people use YouTube as a search engine and watch explainer videos or tutorials at least occasionally. Two studies were conducted to determine how explainer videos can be optimised to promote sustainable minority behaviour such as voluntary carbon offsetting. A typical way to present information in explainer videos is by using exemplars (the “meet Bob” trope), which can change recipients’ judgements of the frequency of events. When an exemplar is included, the frequency of occurrence can be estimated to be higher, even if the actual base-rate information is given. Therefore, study one (N = 482) tested whether an exemplar could enhance the positive effects of a dynamic descriptive social norm appeal (DSNA), prevent the backfire effects of a static minority DSNA, and examine whether there were any differences depending on the narrative perspective. In study one, we conducted a 2 (narrative perspective: first vs. third person) × 2 (DSNA: static vs. dynamic) × 2 (travel destination: Europe vs. overseas; control factor) between-subjects experiment using six self-produced explainer videos about voluntary carbon offsetting (N = 270). The results show that the narrative perspective, different DSNAs, and the destination had no effect on persuasive outcomes. Study two (N = 270) focused on social norm appeals and supplemented minority DSNAs (DSNA: static vs. dynamic vs. absent) with an injunctive social norm appeal (ISNA: present vs. absent). The results show that a majority injunctive social norm appeal can improve attitudes towards voluntary carbon offsetting and perceived effectiveness.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/6028exemplarexperimentexplainer videonarrative perspectivenudgingsocial influencesocial norm appealssustainable behaviourvoluntary carbon offsetting |
| spellingShingle | Anna Schorn Werner Wirth Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting Media and Communication exemplar experiment explainer video narrative perspective nudging social influence social norm appeals sustainable behaviour voluntary carbon offsetting |
| title | Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting |
| title_full | Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting |
| title_fullStr | Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting |
| title_short | Meet Bob and Offset Your Flight: Optimising Explainer Videos to Promote Voluntary Carbon Offsetting |
| title_sort | meet bob and offset your flight optimising explainer videos to promote voluntary carbon offsetting |
| topic | exemplar experiment explainer video narrative perspective nudging social influence social norm appeals sustainable behaviour voluntary carbon offsetting |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/view/6028 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annaschorn meetbobandoffsetyourflightoptimisingexplainervideostopromotevoluntarycarbonoffsetting AT wernerwirth meetbobandoffsetyourflightoptimisingexplainervideostopromotevoluntarycarbonoffsetting |