Modelling risk perception and trust in food safety information within the theory of planned behaviour

This study suggests a statistical strategy for explaining how food purchasing intentions are influenced by different levels of risk perception and trust in food safety information. The modelling process is based on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behaviour and includes trust and risk perception as additional explanatory factors. Interaction and endogeneity across these determinants is explored through a system of simultaneous equations, while the SPARTA equation is estimated through an ordered probit model. Furthermore, parameters are allowed to vary as a function of socio-demographic variables. The application explores chicken purchasing intentions both in a standard situation and conditional to an hypothetical salmonella scare. Data were collected through a nationally representative UK wide survey of 533 UK respondents in face-to-face, in-home interviews. Empirical findings show that interactions exist among the determinants of planned behaviour and socio-demographic variables improve the model's performance. Attitudes emerge as the key determinant of intention to purchase chicken, while trust in food safety information provided by media reduces the likelihood to purchase. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Farm forestry in Pakistan: an application of Theory of Planned Behaviour by probing into the measurement issues

A research has been conducted over methodological issues concerning the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) by determining an appropriate measurement (direct and indirect) of constructs and selection of a plausible scaling techniques (unipolar and bipolar) of constructs: attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and intention that are important in explaining farm level tree planting in Pakistan. Unipolar scoring of beliefs showed higher correlation among the constructs of TPB than bipolar scaling technique. Both direct and indirect methods yielded significant results in explaining intention to perform farm forestry except the belief based measure of perceived behavioural control, which were analysed as statistically non-significant. A need to examine more carefully the scoring of perceived behavioural control (PBC) has been expressed

Eliciting consumer preferences for certified animal-friendly foods: can elements of the theory of planned behavior improve choice experiment analysis?

Models used in neoclassical economics assume human behaviour to be purely rational. On the other hand, models adopted in social and behavioural psychology are founded on the ‘black box’ of human cognition. In view of these observations, this paper aims at bridging this gap by introducing psychological constructs in the well established microeconomic framework of choice behaviour based on random utility theory. In particular, it combines constructs developed employing Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour with Lancaster’s theory of consumer demand for product characteristics to explain stated preferences over certified animal-friendly foods. To reach this objective a web survey was administered in the largest five EU-25 countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Findings identify some salient cross-cultural differences between northern and southern Europe and suggest that psychological constructs developed using the Ajzen model are useful in explaining heterogeneity of preferences. Implications for policy makers and marketers involved with certified animal-friendly foods are discussed.

GM food purchase intentions: linking the theory of planned behaviour with consumer trust and stated choice

After the “European” experience of BSE and further food safety crises consumer trust is playing an increasingly important role in political and marketing decision making. This also relates to the area of consumer acceptance of GM food. This paper integrates consumer trust with the theory of planned behavior and a stated choice model to gain a more complete picture of consumer decision making. Preliminary results indicate that when GM products offer practical benefits to consumers acceptance may increase considerably. Furthermore, both trust and perceived benefits contribute significantly to explaining the level of acceptance.

Attityd till att fullfölja nuvarande studier - En applikation av The Theory of Planned Behavior

För att förutsäga och förklara människors beteenden och intentioner har ”attityd” länge varit ett centralt begrepp inom socialpsykologin. En vanlig teori och modell för ändamålet är ”theory of planned behavior” (TpB), vilken säger att en individs beteende styrs av dess intention, som i sin tur är en funktion av den personliga attityden, det sociala trycket och den upplevda kontrollen att kunna genomföra aktuellt beteende. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka attityden och intentionen till att fullfölja nuvarande studier och göra en applikation av TpB-modellen via en Internetenkät riktad till studenter på Högskolan Dalarna (N = 1292). Hypotesen att ”den upplevda kontrollen” är den viktigaste direkta variabeln för intentionen kunde godtas, vilket kan antagas bero på beteendets karaktär. Diskussion förs också kring intentionens eventuella omvandling till verkligt beteende.

Vad påverkar föräldrars sätt att tillgodose barns behov av regelbundet umgänge? : En applikation på Theory of Planned Behaviour

Föreliggande undersökning var en attitydundersökning baserad på Theory of Planned Behaviour där attityd, subjektiv norm, upplevd kontroll samt intention anses kunna predicera beteende. Syftet med undersökningen är försöka ta reda på vilka faktorer som påverkar hur mycket tid man som förälder umgås med sina barn efter en separation eller skilsmässa eftersom många barn i den situationen förlorar kontakten med den ena föräldern. 36 försöksdeltagare besvarade ett frågeformulär bestående av 31 frågor och påståenden gällande umgänge. Resultaten visar att tiden man som förälder umgås med sina barn efter en skilsmässa beror på intention och upplevd kontroll. Intentionen förklaras av upplevd kontroll och dom förväntningar man upplever från omgivningen. Attityden hade endast liten betydelse i modellen.

Sociala faktorers inverkan på elevers intentioner till högre studier : En applikation av Theory of planned behavior

Denna studie grundar sig på en enkätundersökning av 59 gymnasieungdomars intentioner till att inom de närmaste 5 åren påbörja studier vid högskola eller universitet. Undersökningen är baserad på Theory of planned behavior och syftar till att testa teorins pålitlighet i att besvara vilken av de socialt betingade bakgrundsfaktorerna attityd, subjektiv norm och upplevd beteendekontroll som utgör den bästa prediktorn för undersökningsdeltagarnas intentioner. Därtill undersöks dessa faktorers samband med föräldrarnas utbildningsnivå. Theory of planned behavior visade sig vara ett reliabelt mätinstrument gällande studiens övriga frågor, där den upplevda beteendekontrollen och den subjektiva normen utgjorde signifikanta prediktorer gällande undersökningsdeltagarnas intentioner. Därtill påvisades samband mellan föräldrars utbildningsnivå och deltagarnas intentioner samt subjektiva norm. Författaren menar att studier likt denna ger ett värdefullt bidrag till det viktiga arbetet med att förverkliga den svenska skolans likvärdighetsmål.

Using the theory of planned behaviour to model antecedents of surgical checklist use: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Compliance with surgical checklist use remains an obstacle in the context of checklist implementation programs. The theory of planned behaviour was applied to analyse attitudes, perceived behaviour control, and norms as psychological antecedents of individuals' intentions to use the checklist. METHODS A cross-sectional survey study with staff (N = 866) of 10 Swiss hospitals was conducted in German and French. Group mean differences between individuals with and without managerial function were computed. Structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis was applied to investigate the structural relation between attitudes, perceived behaviour control, norms, and intentions. RESULTS Significant mean differences in favour of individuals with managerial function emerged for norms, perceived behavioural control, and intentions, but not for attitudes. Attitudes and perceived behavioural control had a significant direct effect on intentions whereas norms had not. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with managerial function exhibit stronger perceived behavioural control, stronger norms, and stronger intentions. This could be applied in facilitating checklist implementation. The structural model of the theory of planned behaviour remains stable across groups, indicating a valid model to describe antecedents of intentions in the context of surgical checklist implementation.