Survey experiment to elicit perceived norms about substance use
Health behaviors and health risk behaviors are known to be associated with the extent to which one perceives these behaviors as normative. The canonical example of this phenomenon is taken from the U.S. literature, which has robustly shown that undergraduate students on college campuses tend to drink more heavily and frequently if they believe their classmates drink heavily and frequently, irrespective of their classmates' actual levels and frequency of use. However, there remains little systematic understanding about the best ways to elicit these perceived norms through survey-based research studies. This randomized survey experiment compares different ways of eliciting perceived norms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
1,553
Each version of the questionnaire has the same questions about perceived norms about substance use in the community but differs in how the response options are offered.
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Mbarara, Uganda
RECRUITINGPerception of Tobacco Use Frequency Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish smoked cigarettes four or more times per week in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Tobacco Use Frequency Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish smoked cigarettes four or more times per week in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Use Frequency Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish taken alcohol four or more times per week in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Use Frequency Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish taken alcohol four or more times per week in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
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Perception of Alcohol-Related Blackouts Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish been unable to remember what happened the night before at least once as a result of them taking alcohol in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol-Related Blackouts Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish been unable to remember what happened the night before at least once as a result of them taking alcohol in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol-Related Spousal Problems Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish quarreled after taking alcohol with their spouse or main partner if they have one in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol-Related Spousal Problems Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish quarreled after taking alcohol with their spouse or main partner if they have one in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol Intoxication Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish experienced drunkenness or intoxication on 3 or more days in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol Intoxication Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish experienced drunkenness or intoxication on 3 or more days in the past 30 days?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 30 days)
Perception of Alcohol Use Financial Harms Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish had a harmful effect on their household's finances due to them taking alcohol in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Use Financial Harms Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish had a harmful effect on their household's finances due to them taking alcohol in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Spending Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish spent more than 35,000 USh on any kind of alcohol in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Spending Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish spent more than 35,000 USh on any kind of alcohol in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Binge Use Frequency Among Men
"According to your perception, have most men in your cell in this parish taken 6 or more drinks in a single morning, afternoon, or night in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)
Perception of Alcohol Binge Use Frequency Among Women
"According to your perception, have most women in your cell in this parish taken 6 or more drinks in a single morning, afternoon, or night in the past 12 months?" (single item, culturally adapted and developed for this study; categorical response options)
Time frame: Baseline (The experimental manipulation in this study has to do with which version of the survey the study participant receives, so the time frame for assessment is immediate, and participants are asked about the past 12 months)