The Effect of Information Provision on Public Attitudes toward Biodiversity

Last registered on July 14, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Effect of Information Provision on Public Attitudes toward Biodiversity
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0016382
Initial registration date
July 12, 2025

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 14, 2025, 6:55 AM EDT

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

Last updated
July 14, 2025, 8:25 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
China
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Wendong Wei
Affiliation
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Zhujun Chen
PI Affiliation
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Shuo Li
PI Affiliation
The university of Hong Kong
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-07-15
End date
2025-08-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
biodiversity, experiment, information intervention
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Public attitudes are central to biodiversity conservation, yet the extent to which targeted communication can influence support remains unknown. This paper provides causal evidence on how information interventions shape public support for biodiversity preservation. Using a randomized controlled trial with a nationally representative sample in China, we compare the effects of behavioral economics–based messaging strategies on five attitude measures—perceived severity, responsibility attribution, concern and obligation, behavioral intentions, and holistic value—that are critical for motivating conservation actions. This paper aims to demonstrate that targeted communication can differentially influence perceptions and motivations, offering actionable insights for designing policies to mobilize public support for biodiversity protection effectively.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Chen, Zhujun, Shuo Li and Wendong Wei. 2025. "The Effect of Information Provision on Public Attitudes toward Biodiversity." AEA RCT Registry. July 14. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.16382-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We design a randomized experiment to assess the causal effects of various information provision strategies. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: a control group receiving neutral information, or one of three treatment groups exposed to messaging strategies grounded in behavioral economics—specifically, Loss Aversion, Descriptive Norms, or Personal Relevance.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-07-15
Intervention End Date
2025-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The five main outcomes of interest are:
Perceived Severity: Participants’ assessment of the seriousness and urgency of current biodiversity loss.
Sense of Responsibility: Participants’ belief that humans, including themselves, hold primary responsibility for biodiversity conservation.
Emotional Response: Participants’ level of worry or concern when contemplating biodiversity loss.
Behavioral Intention: Participants’ willingness to support policies or actions aimed at biodiversity conservation, such as endorsing regulations, participating in initiatives, or altering consumption habits.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants are randomly assigned to four groups:
- Control Group: No information intervention
- T1 (Loss aversion): Focuses on risks, costs, and irreversible consequences of biodiversity loss
- T2 (Social norms + gain framing): Highlights public support, past successes, and collective benefits
- T3 (Personal relevance + self-efficacy): Emphasizes personal connections and actionable steps
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization is performed at the individual level using pre-generated random lists included in the survey enumerator instructions.
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
4000 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
4000 individuals (If conditions permit, we will aim to further increase the sample size to enhance statistical power and robustness of the findings).
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1000 individuals per group (three treatment groups and one control group)
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 for Human Research Protections of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
IRB Approval Date
2025-05-07
IRB Approval Number
H20250398I
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