“Nudging” Behavior Change Using Non-normative Statistics
I just read a fascinating study, thanks to my Google Alert for “social norms”. We are often faced with the dilemma of the behavior that we want to promote is NOT normative and so does not seem appropriate for a social norms campaign, even if there is a large misperception. Let’s take a hypothetical example. Suppose […]
Positive Deviance
Who does well in groups where unhealthy behaviors are the norm? One frequent concern about the social norms approach is, “what if the majority of a population engages in the unhealthy behavior?” In social norms marketing, we believe that there’s always a positive norm that can be highlighted: for example, even if the majority of […]
Epidemiology of College Health
This publication, authored by James Turner and Adrienne Keller of the National Social Norms Institute, summarizes 3 1/2 years of data from the student health services of universities participating in the College Health Surveillance Network. This is the first article in the college health literature to be based on epidemiology and service utilization data from multiple institutions […]
Substance Use Screening Tools Database
Do you want to learn more about the population you work with? Many college health professionals want to better understand the attitudes and behaviors of the students they work with, so they can design effective interventions and social marketing campaigns. There are a huge number of existing questionnaires that are designed to measure all kinds […]
“Positive” Or “Negative” Advertising?
We were recently challenged to address a seemingly simple question. However, as with most questions worth asking, the seeming simplicity is deceptive. Here’s the question and how we addressed it. Is “positive” advertising better than “negative” advertising? To answer this question, we have to consider a number of variables, including domain, audience, focus and purpose. Domain: […]
An Important Review Article
Cronce and Larimer, from the University of Washington, offer a review of the efficacy of individually-focused interventions to prevent risky drinking and associated negative consequences among college students. Title Individual-focused approaches to the prevention of college student drinking Abstract Alcohol consumption is prevalent among college students and can become problematic for some. Numerous randomized controlled trials have evaluated the efficacy […]
Alcohol Outlet Density, Norms and Alcohol Use Disorder
Using a general population sample from New York City, these researchers estimated the separate and combined effects of alcohol outlet density and perceived social norms on alcohol use disorder, controlling for confounding factors. Title The roles of outlet density and norms in alcohol use disorder Abstract Background. Alcohol outlet density and norms shape alcohol consumption. […]
Perceived Lack of Control Over Live Outcomes Related to Alcohol Use
A small survey study with a convenience sample of college students. Title Control and Alcohol Problem-Recognition Among College Students Abstract Objective: This study examined negative control (i.e., perceived lack of control over life outcomes) and need for control as predictors of alcohol-problem recognition, evaluations (good/bad), and expectancies (likely/unlikely) among college students. The study also explored […]
Review of Social Marketing Literature
This review of scientific literature on social marketing was done with special reference to alcohol and substance abuse: Title Social marketing, the key for dealing with social pathology especially alcohol and substance abuse Abstract Social marketing tries to affect the social behavior of the target audience in a way that is beneficial to the society […]
Unplugged — European Style Prevention
Unplugged is “an effective school-based program for the prevention of substance use among adolescents” implemented in several European countries and containing a social norms component. We give you the Preface to “Eudap Final Technical Report n.1.” Preface EU-Dap, the European Drug Addiction Prevention trial, is a multicenter study implemented by nine partners from seven different European […]