Comparing attentional disengagement between Prolific and MTurk samples

Development and preliminary validation of the comprehensive emotional eating scale (CEES)

In emotional eating (EE), affective states influence desire to eat and/or eating behavior. Most research on EE focuses on over-/under-eating in response to negative emotions, the former of which is related to higher weight and binge-spectrum eating disorder (ED) symptoms while the latter has been implicated in low weight and restrictive-only ED. Individuals endorsing both forms of negative EE are more impaired than those reporting unidirectional negative EE. Less is known about the influence of positive emotions on eating, in part due to a lack of self-report measures of positive over- and under-eating as separate constructs. The current study presents the development, including item reduction and initial factorial validity (primary aims) and convergent validity (secondary aims) of the Comprehensive Emotional Eating Scale (CEES), a four-factor measure of positive and negative over- and under-eating. The initial 134-item pool for the CEES was based on a review of extant emotional eating scales and emotion words from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The item pool was reduced and four factors identified using exploratory graphical analysis. The structure of the final set of 40 items was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity of the negative over- and under-eating scales was established using measures of body image-focused eating disorder and ARFID symptoms, and exploratory data on the correlates of positive over- and under eating were reported. The CEES showed preliminary evidence of factorial and convergent validity in a US-based convenience sample. It allows for classification on all four quadrants of emotional eating.

Wait or Eat? self-other differences in a commonly held food norm

This research examines a widespread food norm: waiting to eat until everyone in a dining party has received their food. Six experiments (five preregistered, total N = 1907) examine how individuals perceive and respond to this norm and reveal a consistent self-other difference in anticipated norm adherence. Participants reported greater expected norm adherence from themselves compared to others (Studies 1a, 2a, 3-4). This self-other difference is driven by a differential perception of the psychological costs and benefits of eating immediately versus waiting, which are more pronounced for the self than for others (Studies 2a-2b). We tested two interventions targeting this difference: taking the other person's perspective partially reduced, but did not eliminate, the self-other difference (Study 3), while explicit encouragement from a dining companion to break the norm and begin eating, intended to remove social constraints, had no significant effect on the self-other difference (Study 4). These findings extend our understanding of food norms by demonstrating that the perceived psychological utility of norm adherence varies systematically between self and others.

Normative face recognition ability test scores vary across online participant pools

Online participant recruitment is a cornerstone of modern psychology research. While this offers clear benefits for studying individual differences in cognitive abilities, test performance can vary across lab-based and web-based settings. Here we assess the stability of normative test scores across popular online recruitment platforms and in-person testing, for three standard measures of face identity processing ability: the GFMT2, CFMT+ , and MFMT. Participants recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) scored approximately 10 percentage points lower in all tests compared to those recruited through Prolific and university students tested in the lab. Applying stricter exclusion criteria based on attention checks resulted in notably higher exclusion rates for the MTurk group (~ 62%) compared to the Prolific group (~ 22%), yet even after exclusion, some test scores remained lower for MTurk participants. Given that the GFMT2 subtests were developed using MTurk participants, we provide updated normative scores for all subtests (GFMT2-Short, GFMT2-Low, GFMT2-High) and further recommendations for their use. We also confirm the robust psychometric properties of the GFMT2-Short and GFMT2-High, demonstrating strong test-retest reliability, convergent validity with other established tests, and high diagnostic value in identifying super-recognisers. The GFMT2 subtests are freely available for use in both online and in-person research via www.gfmt2.org .

Examining effects of race and ethnic identity on body dissatisfaction following media exposure of thin and curvy body ideals

This study examined moderating effects of race and ethnic identity on associations between thin and curvy media exposure and body dissatisfaction in a community sample of Black and white women. Participants (n = 200 white, n = 199 Black) completed a pre-exposure measure of ethnic identity and pre-post measure of body satisfaction (where lower scores indicate dissatisfaction) after randomization to thin or curvy body ideal conditions. Black women endorsed higher pre-exposure ethnic identity than white women but did not differ in level of body dissatisfaction. Moderated-moderation analysis indicated no effect of race nor a conditional effect of ethnic identity on race. Only the thin but not curvy condition was related to greater body dissatisfaction from pre-exposure (M = 3.00, SD =.78) to post-exposure (M = 2.96, SD =.79), t(199) = 2.67, p =.008, d = .19. Findings support growing research suggesting differences in body ideal pressures and associated body dissatisfaction may be less pronounced between Black and white women than in previous decades. Findings have implications for sociocultural models of body dissatisfaction across racial groups and the hypothesis that ethnic identity may prime or buffer certain body ideals.

Vaccine hesitancy relates to vaccine hesitancy? Discovering nonlinear relations between differing operationalizations of vaccine hesitancy

OBJECTIVES

Vaccine hesitancy is often conceptualized as negative perceptions regarding vaccines, but recent authors have increasingly argued that the construct should instead be conceptualized as indecision in the vaccination decision-making process. This has caused authors to reevaluate the placement of vaccine hesitancy in associated models and frameworks, and it has caused uncertainty regarding how these two conceptualizations relate to each other. In the current article, we argue that the relation between these two conceptualizations of vaccine hesitancy is best understood via nonlinear effects. Specifically, we argue that this relation takes an inverted U-shape.

STUDY DESIGN

We utilized a cross-sectional survey design.

METHODS

We recruited 273 participants from Prolific who completed two measures of vaccine hesitancy: an eight-dimension measure reflecting negative perceptions of vaccines and a unidimensional measure reflecting indecision in the vaccine decision-making process.

RESULTS

We performed eight quadratic regression analyses (one for each dimension) to assess our proposed nonlinear relation. The quadratic term was significant in all eight regression analyses (all p < .01), supporting our proposed inverted U-shape relation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide reasoning for future authors to test whether vaccine hesitancy as negative perceptions impacts vaccination via vaccine hesitancy as indecision, and researchers must now recognize their nonlinear relation in any developed models and frameworks.

Sound effects have only minor contribution to perceptions of anthropomorphism and animacy of simple animated shapes

While studies of anthropomorphism have spanned many decades, there is little evidence of the role that sound effects may play. We present two studies into sound's influence on perceptions of anthropomorphism and animacy using simple geometric animated shapes. For the first study, conducted on 149 participants, we simplified the animation to just two "bumping" squares. Study Two recreated the Heider-Simmel study of 1944, and was conducted on 250 participants under five conditions: without sound, and with one of two different sound types (interface sounds and "anthropomorphic" robot sounds) with two stereo modes (fixed in stereo position, or binaurally panned with the movement). We had participants answer both the Individual Differences in Anthropomorphism Questionnaire and the Godspeed Questionnaire, with three additional questions added. Results showed that the sound had a minor impact on anthropomorphism and potency in Study One, but did not impact animacy. Study Two showed no significant effect on anthropomorphism or animacy, but did show an impact on perceived intelligence and perceptions of activity.

Does Reframing Do Not Resuscitate to Beneficial Care Only Increase Acceptance of No-CPR Orders?

BACKGROUND

The terminology of a do not resuscitate (DNR) order can be confusing and controversial for patients at the end of life. We examined whether changing the name to beneficial care only (BCO) would increase patient acceptance.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Would individuals be more willing to forgo full code (FC) status and accept a no-CPR order if the order title was BCO?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 599 adults residing in the United States, presenting participants with a hypothetical scenario of a terminal patient. One-half were given a choice between FC and DNR status, and one-half were given a choice between FC and BCO status. The 20-item survey included multiple-choice responses and one free-response question.

RESULTS

In our nationally representative survey of US participants who were 50% female and 26% non-White (99% response rate, 599 of 600), there was no difference in participant preference for BCO or DNR overall (P = .7616) and across participant sociodemographic characteristics. Although themes of participant reasons for choosing against CPR were similar for both DNR and BCO preferences, including harms imposed by CPR, lack of quality of life, trust in the medical team, and avoidance of suffering, two additional themes appeared only for BCO responses, including CPR would be useless and the patient would continue to receive beneficial care.

INTERPRETATION

We found no statistically significant difference in preference between BCO and DNR orders for a terminally ill patient. These findings suggest changing the terminology of DNR to BCO may not lead to changes in decisions to forgo CPR. The additional themes identified with the use of BCO support the concept that BCO terminology conveys to the recipient that all beneficial care will continue to be provided to the patient.

Lay people expect social modernization will bring more societal well-being: the relation between expected societal development, communion, agency and subjective well-being

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed that lay people see modernization as a threat to social fabric because it will make people less warm and moral. The purpose of this paper is to describe lay people's understanding of the effects of different types of modernization. Specifically, we checked how social, economic, technological and conventional development are expected to influence communion, agency and well-being in the future society.

METHODS

We conducted three cross-sectional studies using online surveys. Prolific participant pool users over 18 years of age that held Canadian citizenship and resided in Canada were eligible to take part in the study in exchange for financial compensation. T-tests and linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical package.

RESULTS

Participants expected that people in future society will have lower well-being than today. Technological modernization was expected to decrease communion and well-being but increase agency in the future, while social modernization was expected to strengthen societal communion, agency and well-being.

CONCLUSION

Lay people believe that different types of modernization will have different effects on society. Whereas technological progress is viewed ambivalently, social development is seen as uniformly positive for well-being of society. In order to counter pessimism about the future, policy makers should focus on social development while striving to mitigate negative social aspects of technological advancements.

Impact of Self-Reported Long-Term Mental Health Morbidity on Help-Seeking and Diagnostic Testing for Bowel-Related Cancer Symptoms: A Vignette Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if pre-existing mental health morbidity (MHM) might influence help-seeking and willingness to undergo diagnostic investigations for potential colorectal cancer (CRC) symptoms.

METHODS

An online vignette survey was completed by 1307 adults aged > 50 years recruited through Prolific, a UK panel provider. Participants self-reported any chronic physical or MHM. After having been presented with vignettes describing new onset symptoms (rectal bleeding or change in bowel habit), participants answered questions on symptom attribution and attitudes to investigations. Using multivariable logistic regression we examined the association between MHM and symptom attribution, intended help-seeking, and willingness to undergo investigations, controlling for socio-demographic factors and physical morbidities.

RESULTS

Self-reported MHM (reported by 14% of participants) was not associated with cancer symptom attribution (29% of participants with or without MHM mentioned cancer as a possible reason for rectal bleeding and 14% for change in bowel habit). Individuals with self-reported MHM were less likely to contact a GP if experiencing a change in bowel habit (19% vs. 39%; adjusted (a)OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.19-0.60) and to mention rectal bleeding to their GP (83% vs. 89%, aOR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.94). Although most participants would be willing to undergo a colonoscopy for these high-risk symptoms, those with depression/anxiety were less willing (90% vs. 96%; aOR: 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with self-reported MHM are less likely to seek help and less willing to undergo investigations for high-risk symptoms. Targeted support, for example, through additional mental health nurses, might facilitate prompt cancer diagnosis for the large group of people with MHM.

Thinking of food: The mental representation of healthy foods as unprepared

We find that people implicitly and explicitly represent healthy foods they categorize as healthy in their purest, least prepared forms but represent foods they categorize as unhealthy in their most prepared forms (e.g., a veggie patty is represented as frozen while a beef burger is represented in a bun with melted cheese and ready to eat). We find this effect across several studies using both image and word sorting measures in explicit tasks and implicit association tasks. The effect results from the perception of health and taste as two conflicting goals. Preparation (e.g., cooking, adding toppings) makes food more delicious, which creates categorization ambiguity. Hence, healthy food is thought of as unprepared. Indeed, individual differences in perceived health-taste goal conflict moderate the effect. Critically, the representation of healthy foods matters for food decisions. In an experiment that manipulated the descriptive language on a restaurant menu, emphasizing the preparation of foods increased participants' preference for healthy foods (with no improvement for unhealthy foods).

Development and validation of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire - Positive/Negative (ERQ-PN): Does the target of emotion regulation matter?

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) assesses emotion regulation strategies, particularly expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal. However, the ERQ does not discern between regulating positive vs. negative emotions. Recent research suggests that suppression and reappraisal can impact mental health differently when targeting positive vs negative emotions. We developed and validated the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire - Positive/Negative (ERQ-PN), designed to measure positive and negative forms of suppression and reappraisal strategies. We recruited 963 participants (female = 478) through Prolific.com and administered the ERQ-PN. Participants had an average age of 45 years and were predominantly White (74%) and heterosexual (84%). Structural validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analyses. Model fit was estimated using the comparative fit index and the root-mean-square error of approximation. We also used the Bayesian information criterion to compare the fit of different models. Overall, participants used reappraisal more often to decrease negative emotions (vs. increasing positive) and leaned toward using suppression more for negative (vs. positive) emotions. These analyses revealed that the four-factor model (Model 2) delineating four latent variables (positive reappraisal, negative reappraisal, positive suppression, and negative suppression) had a good fit (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0. 97, TLI = 0.96, χ 2(98) = 531.28, p < 0.001). An incremental validity assessment revealed that positive and negative reappraisal correlated similarly with related mental health constructs. By contrast, suppression of negative vs. positive emotions was differentially associated to the validators tested. The ERQ-PN represents a valid measure of emotion regulation that accounts for both positive and negative emotions.

Methodological considerations for behavioral studies relying on response time outcomes through online crowdsourcing platforms

This perspective paper explores challenges associated with online crowdsourced data collection, particularly focusing on longitudinal tasks with time-sensitive outcomes like response latencies. Based on our research, we identify two significant sources of bias: technical shortcomings such as low, variable frame rates, and human factors, contributing to high attrition rates. We explored potential solutions to these problems, such as enforcing hardware acceleration and defining study-specific frame rate thresholds, as well as pre-screening participants and monitoring hardware performance and task engagement over each experimental session. With this discussion, we intend to provide recommendations on how to improve the quality and reliability of data collected via online crowdsourced platforms and emphasize the need for researchers to be cognizant of potential pitfalls in online research.