Silas, J, Jones, A, Weiss-Cohen, L et al. (1 more author) (2021) The seductive allure of technical language and its effect on covid-19 vaccine beliefs and intentions. Vaccine. ISSN 0264-410X
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated a ‘seductive allure’ of technical or reductive language such that bad (e.g., circular) explanations are judged better when irrelevant technical terms are included. We aimed to explore if such an effect was observable in relation to a covid-19 vaccinations and if this subsequently affected behavioural intentions to take up a covid-19 vaccine. Using a between subjects design we presented participants (N = 996) with one of four possible types of vignette that explained how covid-19 vaccination and herd immunity works. The explanations varied along two factors: (1) Quality, explanations were either good or bad (i.e., tautological); (2) Language, explanations either contained unnecessary technical language or did not. We measured participants’ evaluation of the explanations and intentions to vaccinate. We demonstrate a ‘seductive allure’ effect of technical language on bad vaccine explanations. However, an opposite ‘repellent disdain’ effect occurred for good explanations which were rated worse when they contained technical language. Moreover, we show that evaluations of explanations influence intentions to vaccinate. We suggest that misinformation that includes technical language could be more detrimental to vaccination rates. Importantly, however, clear explanatory public health information that omits technical language will be more effective in increasing intentions to vaccinate.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article published in Vaccine. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Seductive allure; COVID-19; Vaccination intentions; Vaccine hesitancy |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Management Division (LUBS) (Leeds) > Management Division Decision Research (LUBS) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 24 Nov 2021 11:48 |
Last Modified: | 15 Nov 2022 01:13 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.027 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:180275 |