Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic
BackgroundsThe effectiveness of citizens’ behavioral changes to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as avoiding large social events, relies on science communication from policymakers and collective action among peer citizens. Extant studies recognize the potential effects of information stimuli o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1015742/full |
| _version_ | 1828084261204262912 |
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| author | Isamu Okada Itaru Yanagi Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Hirokazu Kikuchi |
| author_facet | Isamu Okada Itaru Yanagi Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Hirokazu Kikuchi |
| author_sort | Isamu Okada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundsThe effectiveness of citizens’ behavioral changes to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as avoiding large social events, relies on science communication from policymakers and collective action among peer citizens. Extant studies recognize the potential effects of information stimuli on citizens’ behavioral changes, including what epidemiological experts request (injunctive information) and what surrounding people behave (descriptive information). Yet, they have insufficiently assessed the co-occurrence and possible interaction of multiple information stimuli.Methods1,819 Japanese citizens aged 18 or over were recruited for an experimental survey during March 1–3, 2021 and asked their views on a hypothetical wedding attendance in Japan while being exposed to randomly assigned normative information stimuli. Their willingness to attend a wedding asked before and after the intervention was measured. Infection risk perception was also asked as a mediating variable.ResultsFindings suggest the constant supremacy of descriptive information and no synergistic effects in the interaction of multiple information stimuli. We also report that the effects of injunctive and descriptive information vary according to participants’ risk perception, age, and trust in experts.ConclusionOur experimental test enables a systematic assessment of multiple normative information and confirms the primacy of descriptive information as the main driver of behavioral change. Communication by medical experts has limitations but is still effective in specific categories of the population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:22:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe973ecbfe6543b09f3638ab2c6aa933 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:22:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe973ecbfe6543b09f3638ab2c6aa9332022-12-30T14:48:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-12-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.10157421015742Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemicIsamu Okada0Itaru Yanagi1Yoshiaki Kubo2Yoshiaki Kubo3Yoshiaki Kubo4Yoshiaki Kubo5Yoshiaki Kubo6Hirokazu Kikuchi7Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Nagoya, JapanSchool of Law, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Urban Studies, School of Policy Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Hyogo, JapanDepartment of Law, Politics, and International Relations, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, JapanResearch Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USAProgram on U.S.-Japan Relations, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, Harvard University, Cambridge, USAArea Studies Center, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization, Chiba, JapanBackgroundsThe effectiveness of citizens’ behavioral changes to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as avoiding large social events, relies on science communication from policymakers and collective action among peer citizens. Extant studies recognize the potential effects of information stimuli on citizens’ behavioral changes, including what epidemiological experts request (injunctive information) and what surrounding people behave (descriptive information). Yet, they have insufficiently assessed the co-occurrence and possible interaction of multiple information stimuli.Methods1,819 Japanese citizens aged 18 or over were recruited for an experimental survey during March 1–3, 2021 and asked their views on a hypothetical wedding attendance in Japan while being exposed to randomly assigned normative information stimuli. Their willingness to attend a wedding asked before and after the intervention was measured. Infection risk perception was also asked as a mediating variable.ResultsFindings suggest the constant supremacy of descriptive information and no synergistic effects in the interaction of multiple information stimuli. We also report that the effects of injunctive and descriptive information vary according to participants’ risk perception, age, and trust in experts.ConclusionOur experimental test enables a systematic assessment of multiple normative information and confirms the primacy of descriptive information as the main driver of behavioral change. Communication by medical experts has limitations but is still effective in specific categories of the population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1015742/fullCOVID-19behavioral changesocial normssynergistic effectsJapan |
| spellingShingle | Isamu Okada Itaru Yanagi Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Yoshiaki Kubo Hirokazu Kikuchi Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Psychology COVID-19 behavioral change social norms synergistic effects Japan |
| title | Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | descriptive injunctive or the synergy of both experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 behavioral change social norms synergistic effects Japan |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1015742/full |
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