Principles and popularity: The interplay of moral norms and descriptive norms in the context of volunteerism

Smith, Megan; Masser, Barbara M.

doi:10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02095.x

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…Are they tapping related but distinct concepts? While generally thought of as distinct constructs, previous research has documented a strong relationship between descriptive and injunctive norms and moral judgements, with some work evening defined injunctive norms in terms of morality (Goldring & Heiphetz, 2020;Lindstrom et al, 2018;Russell et al, 2021;Smith & Masser, 2012;Zhang et al, 2022). Across studies we found a moderately strong association between injunctive norms and moral judgements, indicating they are measuring related but distinct beliefs.…”

Section: Relationship Between Injunctive Norms and Moral Judgementssupporting

confidence: 45%

People update their injunctive norm beliefs and moral judgements after receiving descriptive norm information

Deutchman¹

2023

Preprint

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Recent work suggests there is an association between descriptive norms—what we think other people commonly do—and injunctive norms—what we think other people dis/approve of. What role do descriptive norms play in forming injunctive beliefs and what does that tell us about the cognitive processes underlying social norm cognition? Across six studies (N=2,671), we examined whether people update their injunctive norm beliefs—as well as their moral judgements and behavioral intentions—after receiving descriptive norm information about how common (or uncommon) a behavior is. Specifically, we manipulated the descriptive normativity of behaviors, describing behaviors as being weakly (20% of people were doing the behavior) or strongly (80% of people were doing the behavior) normative. To measure belief updating, we assessed beliefs prior to and after receiving information about the descriptive norm. We find that participants updated their injunctive norm beliefs, moral judgements, and behavioral intentions after receiving descriptive norm information and did so to a greater extent for strong compared to weak descriptive norms. Descriptive norms also influenced participants’ injunctive beliefs more than their moral judgements, indicating that injunctive norms beliefs are distinct from moral judgements. Both injunctive norms and moral judgements partially mediated the effect of descriptive norms on behavioral intentions, suggesting that descriptive norms influence our behavior in part by changing our beliefs about what others approve of and find moral. Together, our findings suggest that descriptive norms play an influential role in shaping our injunctive norm beliefs and moral judgements and help to paint a fuller picture of the social cognition of social norms

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Section: Relationship Between Injunctive Norms and Moral Judgementssupporting

confidence: 45%

People update their injunctive norm beliefs and moral judgements after receiving descriptive norm information

Deutchman¹

2023

Preprint

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“…It is possible that participants in the present study perceived the moral norm plus intention items in this manner. Our findings may suggest caution in measuring moral norms in future in QBE research (see also (Smith & Masser, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Promoting the return of lapsed blood donors: A seven-arm randomized controlled trial of the question–behavior effect.

Godin¹,

Germain²,

Conner³

et al. 2014

Health Psychology

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Objective: The aim of this study was to test key variations in the question-behavior effect against a control condition or an implementation intention condition on returning to give blood among lapsed donors (individuals who had not given blood in past two years).Design: At baseline, 7000 lapsed donors were randomized to one of six experimental or to a control condition. Participants in the experimental conditions were asked to complete a 6-item postal questionnaire assessing: intentions-only, interrogative intention, moral norm plus intention, anticipated regret plus intention, positive self-image plus intention, or implementation intentions. Objective measures of behavior were obtained 6 and 15 months later.Main Outcome Measure: The frequency of registrations to give blood over the next 6 and 15 months.Results: Intention-to-treat analysis of the frequency of registrations (GENMOD procedure, Poisson distribution) indicated main effects for condition (experimental versus control) at both 6 months,  2 (1) = 4.64, p < .05, and 15 months,  2 (1) = 5.88, p < .05. Positive self-image and implementation intention interventions outperformed the control condition at 6 months. At 15 months, standard intention, interrogative intention, and regret plus intention conditions each showed more frequent registrations compared to controls and were just as effective as implementation intention formation. Moderation analysis showed the moral norm and positive self-image conditions were significant for first-time (one previous donation) but not repeat (two or more previous donations) donors.Conclusions: The question-behavior effect can be used to reinvigorate blood donation among lapsed donors, and can be as effective as forming implementation intentions. extends previous work on the QBE in three key ways. First, we examine whether the impact of measuring intentions on subsequent behavior can be augmented by using the interrogative form or by measuring constructs in addition to intentions. Second, we compare the QBE not only to a standard nocontact control condition, but also in relation to an established behavior change intervention (i.e., implementation intentions; see (Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006) for a review). Third, we investigate the moderating effects of whether a questionnaire was returned or not and participants' age, sex, and donor status (first-time vs. repeat). The research focuses on a behavior of considerable importance for public health and on a sample of particular significance in this domain, namely, returning to give blood among lapsed blood donors. Augmenting the Question-Behavior EffectSeveral studies have tested the QBE in relation to blood donation, with mixed results. In the first study in this area, Godin et al. (2008) observed significantly more frequent attempts to give blood at both 6-and 12-month follow-ups among repeat blood donors who were asked to complete a Question -Behavior Effect Interventions 4 questionnaire based on an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB; (Ajzen, 19...

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“…A similarly complex issue emerges with moral norms. Although identified as a significant predictor of nondonors’ intentions to donate , external attempts to increase a nondonors’ sense of personal obligation to donate may result in those individuals correcting for that perceived influence . In contrast, other key predictors of intention, such as attitudes and self‐efficacy, show more promise as targets for intervention.…”

Section: What Do We Know?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the current and future contribution of psychology to blood donor recruitment

Masser

Bagot

2014

ISBT Science Series

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Understanding our future donors is of importance to blood collection agencies (BCAs) worldwide. For effective panel management, we need to know both who they are and also why they do or do not engage in blood (product) donation. The recent surge in psychological research into blood donation has provided significant insight into understanding the psychological factors underpinning the commencement of blood donation, that is, answering the why questions. This review will summarize our current understanding of the psychology of blood donor recruitment while outlining the complexities that may lie ahead. From the systematic application of various psychological theories to blood donation, certain psychological elements (e.g. self-efficacy) have emerged as key determinants of donor recruitment. Drawing on this, research psychologists have worked with BCAs to develop and evaluate recruitment materials designed to target these constructs. Both laboratory and in-field trials have consistently shown positive effects in recruiting new donors. This collaboration of researchers and BCAs has furthered understanding and recruitment efficacy generating measurable, operational deliverables. However, such collaborative research also highlights the challenges that lie ahead both in terms of the diversity of nondonors as well as the limitations of current theoretical models. Further, there is an increasing need for large-scale randomized controlled field trials to systematically evaluate interventions designed on the basis of psychological research. Although such trials provide substantial challenges, the promise of psychology in providing the 'who' and 'how' to successfully recruit donor panel members efficiently is great.

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Principles and popularity: The interplay of moral norms and descriptive norms in the context of volunteerism

Cited by 8 publications

References 28 publications

People update their injunctive norm beliefs and moral judgements after receiving descriptive norm information

People update their injunctive norm beliefs and moral judgements after receiving descriptive norm information

Promoting the return of lapsed blood donors: A seven-arm randomized controlled trial of the question–behavior effect.

Understanding the current and future contribution of psychology to blood donor recruitment

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