When Questions Change Behavior

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Nov 24, 2024

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When Questions Change Behavior Name Institution Unit 23 April 2023

WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR Summary of the Article Type of Study It is possible to classify the work of Gavan J. Fitzsimons and Jonathan Levab as an experimental research. The study design described in this paper makes this clear (Levav & Fitzsimons, 2006). The authors changed the independent variable in order to examine and assess the dependent variable, which is the philanthropic choice. This study used a controlled experimental design in which subjects were randomized at random to various circumstances, and the impact of the manipulation was examined. An experimental approach increases the study's internal validity by establishing causal links between independent and dependent variables. Variables The question served as the study's independent variable. The authors used two different sorts of questions to modify this variable: evaluative questions (such as, "How much would you like to donate to save starving children?") and explanatory questions (such as, "How much would you like to donate to help to saving starving children?"). measured judgements on donations in response to fictitious situations. The survey's effects on participants' desire to contribute and how much they were willing to give were evaluated by the authors. Method The study employed a random selection of individuals, even if this article doesn't go into depth regarding the sampling process. Undergraduate students were sought out by the authors, who requested their participation in the study. To reduce potential bias and prevent mixing up the impacts of demand setting with other factors, random assignment to the various situations was adopted. Participants were provided with fictitious situations in which requests for donations 2

WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR were made in an explanatory or evaluative manner, and they were then asked to base their judgments on these situations. To find out how the questions affected participants' philanthropic choices, the authors gathered and evaluated participant replies. Summary of Findings The study's findings demonstrated that participants' decisions to give had a major influence on the question's form. In comparison to descriptive frames that offered unbiased information regarding contribution requests, the authors found that evaluative frames that focused on the positive consequences of donations increased desire to donate and bigger quantities of gifts (Levav & Fitzsimons, 2006). This research implies that questions' wording can affect people's behavior, particularly when it comes to decisions about organ donation. Participants donated more and showed greater willingness to give when the questions were created to evaluate the advantages and favorable effects of donating. On the other hand, participants were less likely to contribute and less inclined to donate if the questions presented neutral information without using descriptive or evaluative language. Critique of the Study Validity and Reliability Because the authors utilized a clearly defined manipulation of the independent variable (survey) and a particular measure of the dependent variable (choice to contribute), the study's validity may be rated as being pretty good. To boost the study's credibility, the authors supplied comprehensive information regarding the methodology and design of the study. Additionally, the study's experimental design contributed to establishing a causal link between the question and the behavior, enhancing internal validity. However, because the study was based on speculative 3

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WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR scenarios rather than real behavior, its ecological applicability may be constrained. The generalizability of the results to real-world circumstances may raise questions about how accurately the results represent how individuals act in everyday life. Interpretation of Findings The data they provide back up the authors' interpretation of their conclusions. They came to the conclusion that whereas assessment framing encouraged more prosocial action, question framing significantly affected participants' decisions to donate (Levav & Fitzsimons, 2006). Statistics and effect size were used by the writers as supporting data for their claims. Alternative reasons, however, can be taken into account. Beyond the scope of the study's questionable design, other elements, such as participants' prior connections, convictions, or individual traits, may have impacted their choice to give. These additional theories can be investigated in more depth investigations to improve the reliability of the findings. Ethical Safeguards Scientific research involves several ethical protections, which is why it's crucial that researchers manage them with care. The absence of a detailed discussion of ethical protections in Levav and Fitzsimmons' investigation might be viewed as a study restriction. In research investigations, ethical issues include getting participants' informed permission, maintaining data confidentiality, and limiting possible damage should always be carefully considered (Mehmood et al., 2016). The use of fictitious circumstances in this study might raise ethical concerns. Since participants are not paying actual money to the study, it is still crucial for researchers to make sure that they have participants' complete understanding of the study's objectives and have their 4

WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR informed permission. However, using hypothetical circumstances may help to allay certain ethical concerns. The goal of the research, the methods involved, and the possible risks and advantages of participation should all be made plain to participants. Participants' rights as research subjects are safeguarded by ensuring that the research is fully understood. Another crucial ethical problem in research is the secrecy of the data. The authors of this study did not disclose how their data was handled, including how participant data was safeguarded, maintained, and utilized for analysis (Florea & Florea, 2020). Researchers must take the necessary precautions to preserve the privacy of participant data and guarantee that it is solely utilized for research. Additionally, participants' potential danger should always be carefully considered in investigations. The authors of this study did not directly address participant risks or harms. Despite the fact that the study focuses on charity gifts that could not present major risks, it is crucial that researchers take into account possible negative outcomes for participants, such as mental anguish or discomfort, and take the necessary precautions to reduce such risks. Follow-up Study By studying the moderating effects of individual variations like personality traits, cultural background, or cognitive style on the link between questions and behavior, potential follow-up research might expand on the findings of this study (Alloy et al., 1999). This makes it possible to comprehend the causes of the observed effects more fully and identifies the variables that the query could have affected. The generalizability of the findings to real-world contexts and the long-term impact of the questions on behavior over time might also be explored in future study. This may be used to assess the results' external validity and usefulness. 5

WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR Method Comparison It is possible to establish causal links between variables using the technique utilized in the study, the design of experiments with altered independent variables. Confounding factors may be carefully managed and offer an exceptionally high level of internal validity. Ecological validity and generalizability to real-world circumstances could have certain restrictions, though. Alternative approaches, like correlational research or field studies, offer more proof and help us comprehend how questions and actions relate to one another in various circumstances (Burns & Grove, 2010). Field experiments can look at the impact of questions on certain behaviors in realistic settings, whereas correlational research can look at the degree and direction of the association between questions and behaviors in real-world scenarios. 6

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WHEN QUESTIONS CHANGE BEHAVIOR References Alloy, L. B., Abramson, L. Y., Whitehouse, W. G., Hogan, M. E., Tashman, N. A., L. Steinberg, D., Rose, D. T., & Donovan, P. (1999). Depressogenic cognitive styles: Predictive validity, information processing and personality characteristics, and developmental origins. Behaviour Research and Therapy , 37 (6), 503–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00157-0 Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2010). Understanding Nursing Research - eBook: Building an Evidence-Based Practice . Elsevier Health Sciences. Florea, D., & Florea, S. (2020). Big Data and the Ethical Implications of Data Privacy in Higher Education Research. Sustainability , 12 (20), Article 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208744 Levav, J., & Fitzsimons, G. J. (2006). When Questions Change Behavior: The Role of Ease of Representation. Psychological Science , 17 (3), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467- 9280.2006.01687.x Mehmood, A., Natgunanathan, I., Xiang, Y., Hua, G., & Guo, S. (2016). Protection of Big Data Privacy. IEEE Access , 4 , 1–1. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2558446 7

When Questions Change Behavior

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