Trends in Michigan Farmers’ Information Seeking Behaviors and Perspectives on the Delivery of Information

A sample of Michigan farmers was surveyed in 1996 and 1999 to examine trends in their information-seeking behaviors and preferred methods of information delivery. In addition, the relationship between demographic characteristics and types of information sources used were examined. Some key findings for both years include: (a) The vast majority of farmers do not use web-based information; (b) income and farm size was positively correlated with all types of information delivery (print, web-based, radio/TV, organizational events and personal sources); and (c) part-time farmers and those with outside employment tended to use fewer information sources than full-time farmers. Suggestions are offered to help educators make better choices in campaign and message delivery

Re-imagining One Health: A perspective from social science

One Health is a framework focusing on the dynamic intersections between humans, animals, and ecosystems regarding health systems and practices. As human decisions and actions are the locus of One Health challenges, it is critical to understand how people perceive and act on these connections. Fundamentally, the literature in this area is based in the natural and health sciences; further efforts are still necessary to fully realize the potential of bringing social research squarely into One Health. We suggest several areas of scholarship that could move this effort forward.; Una sola salud es un marco de interpretación centrado en las interacciones entre seres humanos, animales y ecosistemas, tanto en términos de servicios como de prácticas sanitarias. Las decisiones humanas están en el centro de los retos que plantea este marco, por lo que comprender cómo se perciben estas conexiones y cómo se actúa ante ellas es fundamental. Los estudios en este campo se han basado principalmente en las ciencias naturales y de la salud, y será necesario un esfuerzo adicional para aprovechar también el potencial que tiene incorporar la investigación social a este enfoque. En este artículo sugerimos diversas áreas de estudio que podrían facilitar el avance en este sentido.; Una sola salut és un marc d’interpretació centrat en les interaccions éssers entre humans, animals i ecosistemes, tant en termes de serveis com de pràctiques sanitàries. Les decisions humanes estan en el centre dels reptes que planteja aquest marc, de manera que comprendre com es perceben aquestes connexions i com s’afronten és fonamental. Els estudis en aquest camp s’han basat principalment en les ciències naturals i de la salut, i serà necessari un esforç addicional per a aprofitar també el potencial que té incorporar la investigació social a aquest enfocament. En aquest article suggerim diverses àrees d’estudi que podrien facilitar l’avanç en aquest sentit

Believe it or not: A network analysis investigating how individuals embrace false and true statements during COVID-19

As individuals make belief decisions on truths and falsehoods, a systematic organization of (mis)information emerges. In this study, we employ a network approach to illustrate how a sample of Americans share a cognitive network of false and true statements related to COVID-19. Moreover, we examine what factors are associated with the formation of misbeliefs. Findings from our US-based rolling cross-sectional survey data indicate that conservative groups exhibit a greater tendency to mix up false and true information than liberal groups. This tendency is preserved across different time points, revealing more homogenously structured information networks of conservative groups compared to liberal groups. The benefits of a cognitive network framework that integrates structural perspectives into theories are discussed

The Role of Collective Group Orientation and Social Norms on Physical Distancing Behaviors for Disease Prevention

To reduce the impact of communicable diseases like COVID-19, collective action is required and likely to be susceptible to normative influence as well as whether people are more or less collectively oriented. We extend the theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) to account for group orientation and predict the relationships between social norms and physical distancing behaviors. Using a rolling cross-sectional design during 17 weeks of the pandemic, a national sample of US residents from 20 states (N = 8,778) participated in the study. The findings show that perceived descriptive norms, injunctive norms, and group orientation are significantly associated with physical distancing. The descriptive norm-behavior relationship and injunctive norm-behavior relationship are moderated by group orientation and the other predicted moderators in the TNSB. The findings extend the TNSB and highlight the need to understand social norms and group orientation in formative research for health communication campaigns designed to promote prevention behaviors

Do COVID-19 related primary emotions affect risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, and information seeking and behavior? Examining emotions as audience segments

Introduction Primary emotions among the populace during global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, provide valuable insights. Guided by appraisal theories of emotions, this study explores emotional segmentation by mapping primary emotions related to COVID-19 and investigating their impact on cognitive and behavioral outcomes, including risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, behavioral intentions, prevention behaviors, and information seeking/avoidance. Methods Study 1 surveyed young adults (N = 1,368) to investigate their emotions about COVID-19 and examine the effect of these emotions on risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, and behavioral intentions regarding mask-wearing and physical distancing. Study 2 replicated Study 1 with a quota-based national sample of U.S. adults (N = 8,454) and further tested the effect of primary emotions on preventive behaviors and information seeking/avoidance. Results Results indicated that most people experienced negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, and anxiety. These emotions were associated with varying levels of risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, behavioral intentions, actual behaviors, and information seeking/avoidance. Notably, across both studies, anxious individuals demonstrated more favorable health-related perceptions and behavioral outcomes compared to those experiencing anger. Discussion These findings offer insights into the emotional experiences of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the significant impact of these emotions on risk perceptions and health-related behaviors. Understanding these emotional responses can inform public health strategies and communication efforts during health crises

Measuring social norms related to handwashing : development and psychometric testing of measurement scales in a low-income urban setting in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

OBJECTIVES: To design and test the psychometric properties of four context-specific norm-related scales around handwashing with soap after toilet use: (1) perceived handwashing descriptive norms (HWDN); (2) perceived handwashing injunctive norms (HWIN); (3) perceived handwashing behaviour publicness (HWP); and (4) perceived handwashing outcome expectations (HWOE). DESIGN: Scale items were developed based on previous work and pilot tested in an iterative process. Content experts and members of the study team assessed the face validity of the items. The psychometric properties of the scales were assessed in a cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was conducted in communal housing compounds in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 201 adult residents (≥16 years old) from 60 housing compounds completed the final questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURE: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the goodness of fit of the global model. We assessed the internal consistency of each scale using Cronbach's alpha (α) and the Spearman-Brown coefficient (ρ). RESULTS: The results of the psychometric tests supported the construct validity of three of the four scales, with no factor identified for the HWOE (α=0.15). The HWDN and HWP scales were internally consistent with correlations of ρ=0.74 and ρ=0.63, respectively. The HWIN scale appeared reliable (α=0.83). CONCLUSION: We were able to design three reliable context-specific handwashing norm-related scales, specific to economically disadvantaged community settings in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, but failed to construct a reliable scale to measure outcome expectations around handwashing. The social desirability of handwashing and the narrow content area of social norms constructs relating to handwashing present significant challenges when designing items to measure such constructs. Future studies attempting to measure handwashing norm-related constructs will need to take this into account when developing such scales, and take care to adapt their scales to their study context

Social Influence in Child Care Centers: A Test of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior

Child care centers are a unique context for studying communication about the social and personal expectations about health behaviors. The theory of normative social behavior (TNSB; Rimal & Real, 2005 ) provides a framework for testing the role of social and psychological influences on handwashing behaviors among child care workers. A cross-sectional survey of child careworkers in 21 centers indicates that outcome expectations and group identity increase the strength of the relationship between descriptive norms and handwashing behavior. Injunctive norms also moderate the effect of descriptive norms on handwashing behavior such that when strong injunctive norms are reported, descriptive norms are positively related to handwashing, but when weak injunctive norms are reported, descriptive norms are negatively related to handwashing. The findings suggest that communication interventions in child care centers can focus on strengthening injunctive norms in order to increase handwashing behaviors in child care centers. The findings also suggest that the theory of normative social behavior can be useful in organizational contexts

Observability and the 50-50 Norm in Dictator Games

Decades of research has shown that people often deviate from their self-interests to comply with social norms, especially when exposed to others' scrutiny. While economic incentives help increase norm compliance, even in settings where punishment or rewards are absent, people care about others' opinions and beliefs. We propose an explanation for the effect of observability on norm compliance based on belief-based motivations. Drawing on psychological game theory, we present an experimental design to test the effect of guilt aversion and social image concerns on compliance with a 50-50 social norm under observability in a modified version of a Dictator Game

Social Networks and the Communication of Norms About Prenatal Care in Rural Mexico

Many normative beliefs are shared and learned through interpersonal communication, yet research on norms typically focuses on their effects rather than the communication that shapes them. This study focused on interpersonal communication during pregnancy to uncover (a) the nature of pregnancy-related communication and (b) normative information transmitted through such communication. Results from interviews with pregnant women living in rural Mexico revealed limited social networks; often, only a woman’s mother or the baby’s father were consulted about prenatal care decisions. However, women also indicated that communication with others during pregnancy provided important normative information regarding prenatal care. First, most referents believed that women should receive prenatal care (injunctive norm), which was conceptualized by participants as biomedical, nonmedical, or a blend of both. Second, family members often received prenatal care, whereas friends did not (descriptive norms). These findings highlight the key role of personal and social networks in shaping personal pregnancy-related beliefs and behaviors