When the Rules Change: Understanding Public Reactions to Wild Game Advisory Updates in Maine

Last registered on November 10, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
When the Rules Change: Understanding Public Reactions to Wild Game Advisory Updates in Maine
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0017195
Initial registration date
November 06, 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
November 10, 2025, 9:48 AM EST

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

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Caroline Noblet
Affiliation
University of Maine
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2025-02-01
End date
2027-05-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
information treatment; message conditions; behavior change
JEL code(s)
I18, D83
Secondary IDs
Q18
Prior work
This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.
Abstract
This project examines how concerns about environmental contaminants, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), influence the behaviors and decision-making of hunters in Maine. We will conduct a survey of licensed hunters (both residents and nonresidents) to measure their current consumption, awareness, perceptions, and concerns about contaminants in wild game. The study will experimentally test the effects of different advisory messages on reported hunting and consumption intentions. Messages will reflect changing advisories from the State of Maine and test the impact of 'changing science' on hunter acceptance, use and attention to advisory information and subsequent behavior.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Noblet, Caroline. 2025. "When the Rules Change: Understanding Public Reactions to Wild Game Advisory Updates in Maine." AEA RCT Registry. November 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.17195-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2026-01-30
Intervention End Date
2026-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Key variables include responses to several pre-post Likert scale items: 'The game I hunt in Maine is as safe to eat as other foods I consume'; "I am confident that Maine state agencies use best science in creating safe eating guidelines'; "I trust Maine state agencies...." as well as several perception (i.e. stated concern about PFAS) and stated behavior change questions (I plan to hunt more/less; why plan to change hunting behavior)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We offer one of 8 (2024) or 12 (2025) different possible messages and accompanying maps of Maine's wild game advisory areas to survey participants. The intent is to test whether specific messages impact participants trust in the advisories and the agencies that create them as well as perceptions of safety of Maine wild game.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Random assignment to message treatment will be completed via Qualtrics survey software.
Randomization Unit
Our unit of analysis is each individual respondent.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
We survey all Maine hunting license holders, over 100,000 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
We anticipate 10,000 to 20,000 respondents (i.e. about a 10% response rate).
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Given expected response rates, we expect about 800 people in each message condition (1A-1C, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 4A-4C).
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 the Protection of Human Subjects, University of Maine
IRB Approval Date
2024-11-06
IRB Approval Number
2024-11-06
Analysis Plan