The purpose of this research is to explore how women evaluate photos of other women posted on social media sites. There are two factors the investigators plan to explore in an online experiment: (a) the degree to which body positive images appear to be sexualized or not; and (b) whether or not there is evidence of photo modification on these images. The results of this work will provide greater understanding into the effects of the body positive movement and determine conditions under which these campaigns are most impactful.
The purpose of this research is to explore how women evaluate photos of other women posted on social media sites. Specifically, the investigators are interested in providing more nuance regarding the effectiveness of body positive imagery (i.e., more diverse representations of physical attractiveness and empowerment of women underrepresented in the mainstream media). The literature on female objectification suggests women are oftentimes portrayed in unrealistic ways (e.g., ultra-thin and hyper-sexualized) via the mainstream media. Moreover, warranting theory provides predictions about the extent to which online content represents an offline reality. As such, there are two factors the investigators plan to explore in an online experiment: (a) the degree to which body positive images appear to be sexualized or not; and (b) whether or not there is evidence of photo modification on these images. The results of this work will provide greater understanding into the effects of the body positive movement and determine conditions under which these campaigns are most impactful.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Participants will either view body positive images that are sexualized (vs. nonsexualized) and a great deal of evidence of photo modification (vs. low photo modification).
Chapman University
Orange, California, United States
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items Extent of Sexualization (semantic differential)
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the images that they viewed are sexual in nature using semantic differential scales.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items Extent of Physical Attractiveness (semantic differential)
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the people in the images that they viewed are attractive using a semantic differential scale.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Photo Modification (Likert Scale)
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they believe the images that they viewed were modified or edited in some way with a series of statements about photo modification (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree).
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Body Appreciation
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report to what extent they feel appreciative of their own body with a series of statements about body appreciation (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree).
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Positive Body Image (Likert Scale)
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report about their feelings about their own body a series of statements on their body (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree).
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items of Extent of Positive Evaluations of Photos (Likert Scale)
Closed-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report their evaluations of the images that they viewed on Likert scales with a series of statements (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree).
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Open-Ended Questionnaire Items on the Rate of Other-Objectification / Social Aggression
Open-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report their feelings about the images they are viewing in open-ended response boxes to assess the extent to which they objectify and/or express social aggression toward the images.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); as they view the experimental images
Open-Ended Questionnaire Items on the Rate of State Self-Objectification
Open-Ended Questionnaire Items--Participants will be asked to report 20 statements about themselves and their identity in open-ended response boxes.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); immediately after viewing experimental images
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Biological Sex
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their biological sex as "male" or "female" to include in sample characteristics.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Race/Ethnicity
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their race/ethnic background" to include in sample characteristics.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Age
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their age to include in sample characteristics.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Social Media Use
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report wether they have an Instagram account ("yes" or "no"); if "yes," they will be asked to indicate how much time per day they spend on Instagram.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Body Height
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their height (feet/inches) to include in sample characteristics.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures
Closed-Ended Demographic Item of Body Weight
Questionnaire Item--Participants will report their weight (in pounds) to include in sample characteristics.
Time frame: During the single-session study (data collected over 12 months); at the end of the survey with other demographic measures