2019-12-11, Freivogel, Claudia, Lechner, Isabel, Visschers, Vivianne

2019-05, Visschers, Vivianne, Freivogel, Claudia, Lechner, Isabel

Jahresübersicht des zweiten Projektjahres.

2019, Jobin, Marilou, Visschers, Vivianne, Arvai, Joseph, Siegrist, Michael

The energy transition in Switzerland, as in many other countries, aims to increase the proportion of electricity produced using renewable energy technologies. In this context, governmental agencies and other institutions have attempted to communicate the implications of (domestic) electricity systems through the use of web-based and interactive decision support systems (DSSs). Studies show that, when no additional information is provided, preferences concerning the future electricity mix are mainly driven by the affective reactions that energy technologies evoke. A question remains, however, regarding how people engage with the information provided in a DSS, as well as whether such information is influential in terms of shaping people’s choices. We asked our participants to build an electricity portfolio using a DSS, which modeled the Swiss electricity system. The participants’ political orientation and their affective reactions to different energy technologies guided their information search, as well as the choice of energy technologies within their portfolio. The attention paid to the information provided was not directly related to the participants’ portfolio choices. The selective processing of information, which was based on the participants’ prior attitudes, suggests that they target information they are already familiar with in the DSS. However, this also illustrates a caveat previously identified in motivated political reasoning, since selective information processing, together with the tendency to disconfirm information that is incongruent with prior beliefs, can lead to the polarization of previously held views. As the information provided through the DSS we tested was unable to change the participants’ affective-cognitive evaluation of energy technologies, its use should be carefully considered in light of the possible effects of consolidating existing beliefs.

2018-06-18, Visschers, Vivianne, Feck, Vanessa, Herrmann, Anne

One of the actors involved in the growing risk of antibiotic resistance is the general public. Its perceptions and decisions (i.e., its mental models) regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance determine how much antibiotics are used and how willing people are to adopt measures to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. For the development of intervention strategies and materials that promote the prudent use of antibiotics and the adoption of preventive measures, we thus need to understand the public’s mental models of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. We conducted an interview study (N = 10) and an online survey (N = 1,260) to investigate the Swiss public’s attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and perceived social influences regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Moreover, using the survey data, we examined how these concepts—in addition to people’s demographic characteristics, experiences with antibiotics and cultural values—relate to their request for antibiotics and their willingness to adopt preventive measures against antibiotic resistance. In both studies, respondents held contradicting opinions (i.e., beliefs and attitudes) about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The same individuals, for example, correctly knew that bacteria became resistant against antibiotics and, at the same time, incorrectly believed that their own body became resistant. The survey data additionally showed that respondents’ contradicting attitudes and beliefs affected their request for antibiotics. Respondents’ request for antibiotics was mostly predicted by egoistic values, knowledge about antibiotics and the perceived benefits of antibiotics. Alternatively, their willingness to adopt preventive measures was mainly related to traditional values and biospheric values, their knowledge about preventive measures as well as their perceived risks of antibiotics and of antibiotic resistance. Stronger perceived norms in respondents’ social environment regarding prudent antibiotic usage were related to both a lower request for antibiotics and a higher willingness to adopt preventive measures. In sum, different psychological factors need to be addressed in an intervention to promote both a more prudent antibiotic usage and the adoption of preventive measures among the general public. We will particularly discuss how opposing attitudes and beliefs can be addressed in such intervention materials.

2019-09-27, Freivogel, Claudia, Visschers, Vivianne

2019-03-28, Freivogel, Claudia, Lechner, Isabel, Visschers, Vivianne

2018-12, Visschers, Vivianne, Feck, Vanessa

In diesem Schlussbericht des Forschungsprojektes «My Food Skills»: Entwicklung einer evidenzbasierten Intervention zur Förderung gesunder und nachhaltiger Ernährung werden der Hintergrund und die wichtigsten Ergebnisse des Projektes vorgestellt. Zudem diskutieren wir die Erreichung der von uns gesetzten Meilensteine, die Verwertung und den Impact des Forschungsprojektes, sowie unsere Erfahrungen bezüglich der Zusammenarbeit mit unseren Partnern. Schliesslich wird Rechenschaft über die finanziellen Mittel abgelegt. Insgesamt zeigte das Forschungsprojekt, dass eine massgeschneiderte Interventionsweise einerseits von den Nutzenden sehr geschätzt wurde und sich andererseits als wirksam bewies. In der MyFoodways-App erhalten Nutzende Rezeptvorschläge, welche den persönlichen Bedürfnissen entsprechen. Die persönlichen Angebote wurden als sehr attraktiv wahrgenommen und bewirkten, dass die Nutzenden die App längerfristig aktiv verwenden. Zudem erwies sich, dass je länger die Nutzenden die App verwendeten, umso mehr gesunde und nachhaltige Ernährungsweisen setzten sie um. Eine längerfristige App-Nutzung sorgte auch dafür, dass den Nutzenden bestimmte nachhaltige und gesunde Ernährungsweisen wichtiger wurden. Das App-Entwicklungsteam steht jetzt vor der Herausforderung, die Nutzenden der MyFoodways-App zu halten. Es können Funktionen zugefügt werden, z.B. soziale Funktionen wie Bewertungen der Rezepte durch und für die Nutzenden. Die qualitativen Studien zeigten, dass Nutzende das Bedürfnis nach einer solchen sozialen Funktion haben. Zudem bewiesen die Online-Experimente, dass Bewertungen von anderen Nutzenden die Rezeptauswahl beeinflussen. Um eine langfristige App-Nutzung zu fördern und somit Verhaltensänderungen zu bewirken und zu verfestigen sollte die MyFoodways-App weiterentwickelt werden. Auch während dieser Phase ist es wichtig, dass die Verwendung und Wirkung der App evaluiert wird. Ein Antrag wurde bereits eingereicht, um eine weitere Zusammenarbeit zu ermöglichen.

2019-09-06, Freivogel, Claudia, Visschers, Vivianne

2019, Feck, Vanessa, Herrmann, Anne, Visschers, Vivianne

Background: Food consumption affects individuals as well as our planet. How can a tailored app help people to make healthier and more sustainable meal choices? To answer this question, we contributed to the development of an evidence-based dietary app and evaluated its effects. The app offers personalized recipes and tips in order to reduce food waste and meat consumption, and increase the use of seasonal and plant-based products. Method: Using a mixed-methods approach, app usage data (N=2167) and quantitative data from a longitudinal online questionnaire (T1-T3: N=56) were combined with in-depth interviews with users (N=6) and app-developers (N=3). Findings: In the interviews, users evaluated the personalized recipe-suggestions positively. An additional search (e.g. recipes with certain ingredients) was often no longer necessary to find a suitable recipe. The app metrics showed positive correlations between frequent app usage and the motivation to reduce food waste (r=.06, p<.05) as well as the motivation to use seasonal products (r=.16, p<.01). The survey data showed that participants’ initial confidence to implement new dietary behavior was a strong predictor of the implementation of new dietary behavior after three weeks of app usage (β≥.49, p≤.01, R2 = .66). Last, the development team emphasized the benefits of an iterative approach in which regular user feedback informed the further development process of the app. Discussion: The results of this research show that it can be effective to combine health- and sustainability-focused diet interventions. These interventions should be personalized and aim to increase users’ confidence to perform new dietary behavior.

2018-08-23, Feck, Vanessa, Visschers, Vivianne, Herrmann, Anne

Background: Public behaviour is a crucial factor to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. A better understanding of the public‘s attitudes, knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotics and antibiotic resistance is required to recommend effective communication strategies to promote a more prudent antibiotic usage as well as the adoption of measures to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. Method: An online survey was conducted among the Swiss population (N = 1,260). We applied cluster analysis to identify segments based on the respondents‘ demand for and perception of antibiotics. Through multiple ANOVAs, segments were compared on their demographic characteristics, knowledge, as well as on their cultural values and other variables, such as perceived responsibility. Findings: Four segments were identified. They differed significantly on all perception variables and their demand for antibiotics (Fs > 58, ps < .001, ηp2s > .13): (1) Experienced Sceptics reported a low demand and usage of antibiotics, were aware of the risks and had more experience with antibiotic resistance. (2) Knowledgeable Undifferentiated had lots of knowledge about antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and preventive measures but were neither very concerned about antibiotic resistance nor did they perceive many benefits in using antibiotics. (3) Young Unwilling showed little willingness to adopt preventive measures, were younger and rather uncritical regarding antibiotics. (4) Self-Serving Users reported a high demand and usage of antibiotics, perceived a rather low responsibility and held strong egoistic values. Discussion: To promote prudent antibiotic usage, recommendations for communication strategies were developed targeting the different segments‘ needs.