Bruine de Bruin, W orcid.org/0000-0002-1601-789X, Galesic, M, Parker, AM et al. (1 more author) (2020) The Role of Social Circle Perceptions in “False Consensus” about Population Statistics: Evidence from a National Flu Survey. Medical Decision Making, 40 (2). pp. 235-241. ISSN 0272-989X
Abstract
Purpose. “False consensus” refers to individuals with (v. without) an experience judging that experience as more (v. less) prevalent in the population. We examined the role of people’s perceptions of their social circles (family, friends, and acquaintances) in shaping their population estimates, false consensus patterns, and vaccination intentions. Methods. In a national online flu survey, 351 participants indicated their personal vaccination and flu experiences, assessed the percentage of individuals with those experiences in their social circles and the population, and reported their vaccination intentions. Results. Participants’ population estimates of vaccination coverage and flu prevalence were associated with their perceptions of their social circles’ experiences, independent of their own experiences. Participants reporting less social circle “homophily” (or fewer social contacts sharing their experience) showed less false consensus and even “false uniqueness.” Vaccination intentions were greater among nonvaccinators reporting greater social circle vaccine coverage. Discussion. Social circle perceptions play a role in population estimates and, among individuals who do not vaccinate, vaccination intentions. We discuss implications for the literature on false consensus, false uniqueness, and social norms interventions.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2020. This is an author produced version of an article published in Medical Decision Making. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | False consensus, false uniqueness, influenza vaccination, perceived social norms |
Dates: |
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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) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Riksbankens Jubileumsfond M14-0138:1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Nov 2019 15:33 |
Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2020 01:07 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/0272989X20904960 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:153640 |