Okan, Y orcid.org/0000-0001-7963-1363, Stone, ER and Bruine de Bruin, W orcid.org/0000-0002-1601-789X (2018) Designing Graphs that Promote Both Risk Understanding and Behavior Change. Risk Analysis, 38 (5). pp. 929-946. ISSN 0272-4332
Abstract
Graphs show promise for improving communications about different types of risks, including health risks, financial risks, and climate risks. However, graph designs that are effective at meeting one important risk communication goal (promoting risk-avoidant behaviors) can at the same time compromise another key goal (improving risk understanding). We developed and tested simple bar graphs aimed at accomplishing these two goals simultaneously. We manipulated two design features in graphs, namely, whether graphs depicted the number of people affected by a risk and those at risk of harm (“foreground+background”) versus only those affected (“foreground-only”), and the presence versus absence of simple numerical labels above bars. Foreground-only displays were associated with larger risk perceptions and risk-avoidant behavior (i.e., willingness to take a drug for heart attack prevention) than foreground+background displays, regardless of the presence of labels. Foreground-only graphs also hindered risk understanding when labels were not present. However, the presence of labels significantly improved understanding, eliminating the detrimental effect of foreground-only displays. Labels also led to more positive user evaluations of the graphs, but did not affect risk-avoidant behavior. Using process modeling we identified mediators (risk perceptions, understanding, user evaluations) that explained the effect of display type on risk-avoidant behavior. Our findings contribute new evidence to the graph design literature: unlike what was previously feared, we demonstrate that it is possible to design foreground-only graphs that promote intentions for behavior change without a detrimental effect on risk understanding. Implications for the design of graphical risk communications and decision support are discussed.
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Society for Risk Analysis. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Okan, Y., Stone, E. R. and Bruine de Bruin, W. (2017), Designing Graphs that Promote Both Risk Understanding and Behavior Change. Risk Analysis. doi:10.1111/risa.12895; which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12895. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. | ||||||
Keywords: | Graph design; medical decision making; risk communication | ||||||
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Institution: | The University of Leeds | ||||||
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) > Management Division Decision Research (LUBS) | ||||||
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Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications | ||||||
Date Deposited: | 10 Aug 2017 10:56 | ||||||
Last Modified: | 18 Aug 2020 11:17 | ||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||
Publisher: | Wiley | ||||||
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.12895 |