Abstract
This study contributes to our knowledge of whether and why citizens engage in self-protective behavior with regard to a real-life risk (the transportation of chemical substances by train). We assume that the way in which relevant risk information is processed, actively vs. passively, is a crucial factor. We hypothesize that behavioral training on self-protectiveness (the active approach) will increase respondents’ perceived feasibility (self-efficacy) and the expected usefulness (response-efficacy) of risk-mitigating options to a larger extent than the passive approach (merely read about it). We subsequently propose that behaviorally trained participants will show more self-protectiveness than merely informed participants. Both groups are also compared to an uninformed control group. First, a behavioral-training-effectiveness-study was conducted in order to explore whether the training developed led to an increase in participants’ efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness (N = 47). Second, in our main study we took a random sample from the town's population (N = 614) and tested if the instructional method (behavioral training vs. information only vs. no information) is a predictor of efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness. As expected, the instructional method used and the level of perceived response-efficacy positively influence self-protectiveness. Behaviorally trained respondents perceived risk mitigating options as more useful and showed more self-protectiveness than merely informed and uninformed participants. Furthermore, response-efficacy turned out to be a partial mediator between instructional method and self-protectiveness. Self-efficacy did not significantly predict self-protectiveness in this study. This study demonstrates that using appropriate risk communication tools is crucial in order to increase self-protective behavior of citizens.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Safety science |
| Volume | 101 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2018 |
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Keywords
- Behavioral training
- Efficacy beliefs
- Real-life risk
- Self-protective behavior
Cite this
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Making it stick : Exploring the effects of information and behavioral training on self-protectiveness of citizens in a real-life safety setting. / Kievik, M.; Misana-Ter Huurne, E. F.J.; Gutteling, J. M.; Giebels, E.
In: Safety science, Vol. 101, 01.01.2018, p. 1-10.Research output: Scientific - peer-review › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Making it stick
T2 - Safety science
AU - Kievik,M.
AU - Misana-Ter Huurne,E. F.J.
AU - Gutteling,J. M.
AU - Giebels,E.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - This study contributes to our knowledge of whether and why citizens engage in self-protective behavior with regard to a real-life risk (the transportation of chemical substances by train). We assume that the way in which relevant risk information is processed, actively vs. passively, is a crucial factor. We hypothesize that behavioral training on self-protectiveness (the active approach) will increase respondents’ perceived feasibility (self-efficacy) and the expected usefulness (response-efficacy) of risk-mitigating options to a larger extent than the passive approach (merely read about it). We subsequently propose that behaviorally trained participants will show more self-protectiveness than merely informed participants. Both groups are also compared to an uninformed control group. First, a behavioral-training-effectiveness-study was conducted in order to explore whether the training developed led to an increase in participants’ efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness (N = 47). Second, in our main study we took a random sample from the town's population (N = 614) and tested if the instructional method (behavioral training vs. information only vs. no information) is a predictor of efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness. As expected, the instructional method used and the level of perceived response-efficacy positively influence self-protectiveness. Behaviorally trained respondents perceived risk mitigating options as more useful and showed more self-protectiveness than merely informed and uninformed participants. Furthermore, response-efficacy turned out to be a partial mediator between instructional method and self-protectiveness. Self-efficacy did not significantly predict self-protectiveness in this study. This study demonstrates that using appropriate risk communication tools is crucial in order to increase self-protective behavior of citizens.
AB - This study contributes to our knowledge of whether and why citizens engage in self-protective behavior with regard to a real-life risk (the transportation of chemical substances by train). We assume that the way in which relevant risk information is processed, actively vs. passively, is a crucial factor. We hypothesize that behavioral training on self-protectiveness (the active approach) will increase respondents’ perceived feasibility (self-efficacy) and the expected usefulness (response-efficacy) of risk-mitigating options to a larger extent than the passive approach (merely read about it). We subsequently propose that behaviorally trained participants will show more self-protectiveness than merely informed participants. Both groups are also compared to an uninformed control group. First, a behavioral-training-effectiveness-study was conducted in order to explore whether the training developed led to an increase in participants’ efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness (N = 47). Second, in our main study we took a random sample from the town's population (N = 614) and tested if the instructional method (behavioral training vs. information only vs. no information) is a predictor of efficacy beliefs and self-protectiveness. As expected, the instructional method used and the level of perceived response-efficacy positively influence self-protectiveness. Behaviorally trained respondents perceived risk mitigating options as more useful and showed more self-protectiveness than merely informed and uninformed participants. Furthermore, response-efficacy turned out to be a partial mediator between instructional method and self-protectiveness. Self-efficacy did not significantly predict self-protectiveness in this study. This study demonstrates that using appropriate risk communication tools is crucial in order to increase self-protective behavior of citizens.
KW - Behavioral training
KW - Efficacy beliefs
KW - Real-life risk
KW - Self-protective behavior
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85027838930&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ssci.2017.08.007
DO - 10.1016/j.ssci.2017.08.007
M3 - Article
VL - 101
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Safety science
JF - Safety science
SN - 0925-7535
ER -