Climate Action and Global Psychology Assignment

Assignment Task

Research Scenario

A psychology PhD student obtains a small research grant from Green Watch, a non-government organisation focused on environmental protection, to conduct a study into the factors that influence climate change action. Based on a review of the recent literature into science communication, they know that simply providing people with the facts about climate change is ineffective in influencing acceptance of anthropogenic climate change and prompting behavioural action. Instead, they wonder whether the way the information is communicated (i.e., framed) influences engagement with climate change. Their research question is whether gain-framed messages (e.g., highlighting the benefits of behavioural change) are more (or less) effective in producing behavioural change than loss-framed messages (e.g., highlighting the negatives of behavioural inaction). To address this research question, they conduct a study where they manipulate the different message frames for communicating climate change evidence.

They design a study where participants see either messages highlighting the potential consequences of behavioural inaction, or messages highlighting the potential benefits of behavioural action. The dependent variable is behavioural intention towards climate change action, which is measured using a 22-item likert-response style questionnaire that is summed to produce a score for each participant. Higher values indicate greater behavioural intention towards climate change and lower values indicate lower levels of behavioural intention towards climate change. Using convenience sampling, they recruit participants through flyers posted around their university campus and at their local shopping centre. They then allocate participants to either the gain-framed or loss-framed message condition and measure behavioural intention towards climate change action before and immediately after viewing the message. Participants complete the study online using their own computer or electronic device. Therefore, the research design is 2x2 mixed design with message frame being the between-groups factor with two levels: gain-framed or loss-framed and the repeated measures factor being the measurement of behavioural intention before and after the message has been viewed by participants.

After the study has concluded, they report the following advice to Green Watch:

Based on the findings of the research, people who view loss-framed messages will make lifestyle changes to reduce their environmental footprint. Therefore, Green Watch advertisements should highlight the consequences of climate change inaction. Your task for this assignment is to re-run the data analysis, report the results according to current APA standards, and answer all three questions regarding the research

Questions

1. Report the results of your analysis according to APA standards.

2. Answer the following questions, ensuring that you explain and justify your answers:

3. What are some of the strengths and limitations of the research study?

4. Based on your critical analysis of the findings, would your advice to Green Watch be the same? In your answer, explain why or why not and use the data to support your position.

5. If you were tasked to run this study, what changes would you make?

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