Self-protection and policy support in the face of a novel pandemic

Last registered on August 03, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Self-protection and policy support in the face of a novel pandemic
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011712
Initial registration date
July 03, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 10, 2023, 8:57 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
August 03, 2023, 4:14 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Linda Thunstrom
Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Madison Ashworth
PI Affiliation
Fletcher Group
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PI Name
Johanna Mollerstrom
PI Affiliation
George Mason University
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PI Name
Todd Cherry
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Jason Shogren
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Shiri Noy
PI Affiliation
Denison University
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PI Name
David Finnoff
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Sean McCrea
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Stephen Newbold
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-07-10
End date
2023-08-07
Keywords
Behavior, Health
Additional Keywords
pandemic; risk
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study intends to measure how people respond to a future pandemic, depending on the characteristics of the pandemic (overall mortality risk and group at highest mortality risk -- children or elderly). Our participants get randomized into one of four versions of the pandemic. We measure people's intent to self-protect as well as their support for policies intended to control the spread of the pandemic. Further, we measure people's beliefs about the behavior and policy support of others, in order to capture beliefs about social norms.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ashworth, Madison et al. 2023. "Self-protection and policy support in the face of a novel pandemic." AEA RCT Registry. August 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11712-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Our participants get randomized into one of four versions of the pandemic. We vary the risk of infection (high/low) and the population group most at risk of dying (children/elderly) across the treatments.
Intervention Start Date
2023-07-10
Intervention End Date
2023-08-07

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Self-protection: intention (scale 1-9, from definitely would not to definitely would) to avoid public spaces, large gatherings, stay informed about the latest science, get tested, get a treatment if infected, wear a face mask, avoid seeing people outside one's household, home school, get vaccinated.
Policy support: intention to support (scale 1-9, from definitely would not to definitely would) the following policies: ban of large gatherings, ban of international travel, closures of restaurants and bars, school closures, mandatory testing, face mask mandates, vaccine mandate
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Index on self-protection and index on policy support. The indices will be created by summing the individual scores of the likert scales for each item of the key outcome variables.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Reliance on information sources (0-100): public health authorities, family physician, friends and family, traditional media, social media, public health authorities
Beliefs about polarization between Democrats and Republicans in self-protection and policy support: more/less than during COVID-19.
Beliefs about social norms for self-protection and policy support.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants will be randomized into one of four treatments. The will be subjected to the treatment information on overall risk of infection and mortality risk of the group at highest risk of dying in the version of the pandemic represented by their treatment. Thereafter, they will state (1) their intended self-protection, and answer incentivized questions about their beliefs about other's intended self-protection, (2) their intended policy support, and answer incentivized questions about their beliefs about other's intended policy support, (3) answer how much they would rely on different information sources, (4) answer whether they think the novel pandemic would be more/less polarizing than the COVID-19 pandemic. They will thereafter also answer questions about their experience with, and attitudes towards, COVID-19, as well as questions about common demographics.
Experimental Design Details
Participants will be randomized into one of four treatments. The will be subjected to the treatment information on overall risk of infection and mortality risk of the group at highest risk of dying in the version of the pandemic represented by their treatment. Thereafter, they will state (1) their intended self-protection, and answer incentivized questions about their beliefs about other's intended self-protection, (2) their intended policy support, and answer incentivized questions about their beliefs about other's intended policy support, (3) answer how much they would rely on different information sources, (4) answer whether they think the novel pandemic would be more/less polarizing than the COVID-19 pandemic. They will thereafter also answer questions about their experience with, and attitudes towards, COVID-19, as well as questions about common demographics.
Randomization Method
Randomization done by computer.
Randomization Unit
Individual.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
None.
Sample size: planned number of observations
1,500.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
375.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Institutional Review Board, University of Wyoming
IRB Approval Date
2023-04-28
IRB Approval Number
#20220715DF03356
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials