Work

Simply asking questions about health behaviors increases both healthy and unhealthy behaviors

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: Several recent lines of survey research demonstrate that the simple act of asking a question can lead to changes in a respondent's subsequent behavior. In the current research we asked college students their likelihood to either (i) exercise or (ii) use illegal drugs in the coming 2 months. After 2 months we asked the same college students to report their exercising and illegal drug use behaviors. The findings provide further evidence that these “question–behavior” effects occur for socially normative personal health behaviors, a domain that should have high levels of respondent vigilance and defensive processing. Of more concern, we demonstrate that when a question is asked about a socially non‐normative health behavior (i.e., illegal drug use), instead of decreases in the behavior we see increased rates of the non‐normative behavior.

Source: Social Influence

DOI: 10.1080/15534510600630850

Authors: Patti Williams, Lauren G. Block, Gavan J. Fitzsimons

Institutions: University of Pennsylvania, Baruch College, City University of New York, Duke University

Language: English

Topic: Survey Methodology and Nonresponse

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2166817359

FWCI: 10.67

Cites: 23

Cited by: 85

Related to: 10