Increasing attention to and retention of warnings: The effects of container hazardousness, warning quality, and severity of injury

This research examined the influence of warning quality, container hazardousness, and severity of the potential injury on attention to and retention of warning information. Warning quality and container hazardousness were manipulated as within subjects variables, severity of injury as a between subjects variable. Two levels of each variable were used, high and low. Participants viewed the four possible combinations of warning quality and container hazardousness and then responded to various questions concerning their perceptions and retention of warning information. The results demonstrated the importance of warning quality. Enhanced features such as pictorials, signal words, safety icons, and color increase warning salience and recollection of warning information. The results also indicate that the hazardousness of containers influences whether people read warning labels and subsequent reports of cautious intent. However, its influence is modified by both severity of injury and warning quality.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Social Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Meingast, Melissa Ellen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Laughery, Kenneth R., Sr.

• Behavioral psychology
• Public health

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17359

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17359