Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Two laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the behavioral effects of cost and consensus on warning compliance. Subjects performed a chemistry demonstration task using a set of instructions that contained a warning directing them to wear a safety mask and gloves. In Experiment 1, cost was manipulated by locating the masks and gloves in either an accessible location (low cost) or a less accessible location (high cost). In Experiment 2, consensus was manipulated by the additional presence of a confederate subject who either did or did not comply with the warning. The results showed reduced compliance to the warning when the cost was high, and that the compliance rate was biased up or down depending on the behavior of the confederate. Implications of this research for facilitating warning effectiveness and safety are discussed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Asch

S. E.

(1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 193, 31–35.

Chaiken

(1980). Heuristic versus systematic information processing and the use of source versus message cues in persuasion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 752–766.

Cialdini

(1984). Influence. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Cunitz

R. J.

(1981). Psychologically effective warnings. Hazard Prevention, 17, 5–7.

Eagly

A. H.

Chaiken

(1984). Cognitive theories of persuasion. In Berkowitz

(ed.) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 17), New York: Academic Press.

McCarthy

R. L.

Finnegan

J. P.

Krumm-Scott

McCarthy

G. E.

(1984). Product information presentation, user behavior, and safety. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 28th Annual Meeting (pp. 81–85). Santa Monica, CA: The Human Factors Society.

Peters

G. A.

(1984). A challenge to the safety profession. Professional Safety, 29, 46–50.

Petty

R. E.

Cacioppo

J. T.

Goldman

(1981). Personal involvement as a determinant of argument-based persuasion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41, 847–855.

Piliavin

I. M.

Piliavin

J. A.

Rodin

(1976). Costs, diffusion, and the stigmatized victim. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32, 429–438.

10.

Strawbridge

J. A.

(1986). The influence of position, highlighting and imbedding on warning effectiveness. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 30th Annual Meeting (pp. 716–720). Santa Monica, CA: The Human Factors Society, 716–720.

11.

Wogalter

M. S.

Godfrey

S. S.

Fontenelle

G. A.

Desaulniers

D. R.

Rothstein

P. R.

Laughery

K. R.

(1987). Effectiveness of warnings. Human Factors, 29, 599–612.

Warning Compliance: Behavioral Effects of Cost and Consensus

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References