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Rising sea surface water temperatures is contributing to coral degradation in the Great Barrier Reef. Synthetic biology technologies offer the potential to enhance coral resilience to higher water temperatures. To explore what the public think of genetically engineered coral, qualitative responses to an open-ended question in a survey of 1,148 of the Australian public were analysed. More respondents supported the technology (59%) than did not (11%). However, a considerable proportion indicated moderate or neutral support (29%). Participants commented about the (moral) right to interfere with nature and uncertainty regarding the consequences of implementing the technology. Participants also mentioned the need to take responsibility and act to save the reef, as well as the benefits likely to result from implementing the technology. Other themes included a desire for further testing and proof, more information, and tight regulation and controls when introducing the technology.
Elizabeth V. Hobman; Aditi Mankad; Lucy Carter; Chantale Ruttley; Lucy Carter Aditi Mankad. Genetically engineered coral: A mixed-methods analysis of initial public opinion. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleElizabeth V. Hobman, Aditi Mankad, Lucy Carter, Chantale Ruttley, Lucy Carter Aditi Mankad. Genetically engineered coral: A mixed-methods analysis of initial public opinion. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElizabeth V. Hobman; Aditi Mankad; Lucy Carter; Chantale Ruttley; Lucy Carter Aditi Mankad. 2021. "Genetically engineered coral: A mixed-methods analysis of initial public opinion." , no. : 1.
Self-medication with antibiotics is a major contributing factor to antimicrobial resistance. Prior research examining factors associated with antibiotic self-medication has focused on an individual’s knowledge about antibiotics, antibiotic usage practices, accessibility to antibiotic medication, and demographic characteristics. The role of psychological distress associated with perceived health risks in explaining antibiotic self-medication is less understood. This study was designed to address this knowledge gap in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. An online survey of 2217 participants was conducted at the height of the initial outbreak and revealed that 19.5% of participants took antibiotics to protect themselves from COVID-19. Multivariate logistic analysis examined the predictors of taking antibiotics for protection against COVID-19. An integrative framework developed from the results illustrates potential pathways and facilitating factors that may contribute to prophylactic self-medication with antibiotics. Specifically, COVID-19 pandemic-induced psychological distress was significantly positively related to self-medication. Preventive use of antibiotics was also facilitated by a lack of understanding about antibiotics, inappropriate antibiotics usage practices, the nature of the patient-doctor relationship, and demographic characteristics. The findings highlight that to combat antimicrobial resistance due to self-medication, interventions need to focus on interrupting entrenched behavioural responses and addressing emotional responses to perceived health risks.
Airong Zhang; Elizabeth Hobman; Paul De Barro; Asaesja Young; David Carter; Mitchell Byrne. Self-Medication with Antibiotics for Protection against COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Distress, Knowledge of, and Experiences with Antibiotics. Antibiotics 2021, 10, 232 .
AMA StyleAirong Zhang, Elizabeth Hobman, Paul De Barro, Asaesja Young, David Carter, Mitchell Byrne. Self-Medication with Antibiotics for Protection against COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Distress, Knowledge of, and Experiences with Antibiotics. Antibiotics. 2021; 10 (3):232.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAirong Zhang; Elizabeth Hobman; Paul De Barro; Asaesja Young; David Carter; Mitchell Byrne. 2021. "Self-Medication with Antibiotics for Protection against COVID-19: The Role of Psychological Distress, Knowledge of, and Experiences with Antibiotics." Antibiotics 10, no. 3: 232.
Public engagement in science with diverse cross-sections of the community is considered a critical aspect of responsible biotechnological innovation. While the research community shows willingness to engage with both ambivalent and supportive audiences about potentially disruptive technological advances, there is less enthusiasm for engaging with groups who hold deeply opposing views to such advances. ‘Playing God’ and ‘tampering with nature’ are popular examples of intrinsic objections often made in opposition to the development or use of novel genetic technologies. Historically appearing in arguments against the pursuit of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and food industries, intrinsic objections have previously been labelled by the science community as inconsistent, non-scientific, and vague. Now found in a range of innovation contexts, the domain of synthetic biology appears to attract such objections consistently. We present the findings from a large Australian study (N = 4593) which suggests ‘playing God’ objections and their variants can be multilayered and, at times, accompanied by meaningful information about risk perceptions. We use qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from an online survey to show how these objections are articulated in response to selected synthetic biology applications across environmental and health domains. Our research invites a rethink of how the synthetic biology community perceives, and engages with, people who express intrinsic objections. These people may additionally hold extrinsic concerns that may be potentially addressed, or at least reasonably considered, through dialogue. We offer some concluding remarks for engaging with publics who employ these types of arguments to communicate unease with aspects of technology development and use.
L. Carter; A. Mankad; E. V. Hobman; N. B. Porter. Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology. Transgenic Research 2021, 1 -13.
AMA StyleL. Carter, A. Mankad, E. V. Hobman, N. B. Porter. Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology. Transgenic Research. 2021; ():1-13.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Carter; A. Mankad; E. V. Hobman; N. B. Porter. 2021. "Playing God and tampering with nature: popular labels for real concerns in synthetic biology." Transgenic Research , no. : 1-13.
There is sometimes an inherent assumption that the logical head will overrule the emotional heart in matters of science and technology. However, literature on decision‐making under risk and uncertainty suggests that emotional responses may be more potent. A representative sample of Australians participated in a large, national, online survey (n = 8,037) in which we measured the influence of knowledge and emotion in predicting support for possible synthetic biology (synbio) solutions to conservation, environmental, and industrial problems. A hierarchical regression model was used to examine the relative influence of affect‐ and emotion‐related factors beyond the influence of knowledge factors in predicting support for synbio solutions. Subsequently interaction analyses were conducted to examine the potentially moderating role of emotions in the knowledge‐support relationship. There was 64% variance in overall support for synbio solutions (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001). The most influential predictor of support in the model was positive emotion. Feeling hopeful, excited, and curious toward a synbio technology was related to greater overall support for the development of that technology. The second‐strongest set of predictors was affect‐related measures that evaluate the technology as bad or good, harmful or beneficial, and risky or safe. Positive emotion and an assessment that the technology was good significantly moderated the effect of knowledge on support. These findings suggest that, at least initially, people are more likely to be guided by their emotions when considering support for synbio technologies, which has implications for how researchers design and implement engagement and communication strategies more broadly. Article impact statement: Emotions influence and moderate support for synthetic biology which has implications for technology design, implementation and communication. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Aditi Mankad; Elizabeth V. Hobman; Lucy Carter. Effects of knowledge and emotion on support for novel synthetic biology applications. Conservation Biology 2020, 35, 623 -633.
AMA StyleAditi Mankad, Elizabeth V. Hobman, Lucy Carter. Effects of knowledge and emotion on support for novel synthetic biology applications. Conservation Biology. 2020; 35 (2):623-633.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAditi Mankad; Elizabeth V. Hobman; Lucy Carter. 2020. "Effects of knowledge and emotion on support for novel synthetic biology applications." Conservation Biology 35, no. 2: 623-633.
In recent years, energy conservation research has identified a number of household actions that have the potential to drive significant reductions in carbon emissions in the near-term, without requiring substantial changes to householders’ lifestyles or imposing significant financial costs. In this qualitative study, we investigate the potential of some of these actions for behavioral modification by asking householders to reveal the reasons why they perform (or fail to perform) such actions. As part of a telephone survey, a sample of customers (n = 1541) from an Australian energy retailer were asked about their reasons for engaging in specific energy usage practices in one of five household domains: laundry, kitchen, bathroom, space heating/cooling or general appliance usage. Qualitative analyses of participants’ open-ended responses revealed that practices in the laundry and kitchen appear to hold the greatest promise for behavioral change, whereas practices in the shower may be more challenging to modify. Integrating our findings with current psychological and sociological knowledge, we present a range of possibilities for future behavior change interventions at the practice-level.
Elizabeth V. Hobman; Karen Stenner; Elisha R. Frederiks. Exploring Everyday Energy Usage Practices in Australian Households: A Qualitative Analysis. Energies 2017, 10, 1332 .
AMA StyleElizabeth V. Hobman, Karen Stenner, Elisha R. Frederiks. Exploring Everyday Energy Usage Practices in Australian Households: A Qualitative Analysis. Energies. 2017; 10 (9):1332.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElizabeth V. Hobman; Karen Stenner; Elisha R. Frederiks. 2017. "Exploring Everyday Energy Usage Practices in Australian Households: A Qualitative Analysis." Energies 10, no. 9: 1332.
This article provides a comprehensive review of theory and research on the individual-level predictors of household energy usage. Drawing on literature from across the social sciences, we examine two broad categories of variables that have been identified as potentially important for explaining variability in energy consumption and conservation: socio-demographic factors (e.g., income, employment status, dwelling type/size, home ownership, household size, stage of family life cycle) and psychological factors (e.g., beliefs and attitudes, motives and intentions, perceived behavioral control, cost-benefit appraisals, personal and social norms). Despite an expanding literature, we find that empirical evidence of the impact of these variables has been far from consistent and conclusive to date. Such inconsistency poses challenges for drawing generalizable conclusions, and underscores the complexity of consumer behavior in this domain. In this article, we propose that a multitude of factors—whether directly, indirectly, or in interaction—influence how householders consume and conserve energy. Theory, research and practice can be greatly advanced by understanding what these factors are, and how, when, where, why and for whom they operate. We conclude by outlining some important practical implications for policymakers and directions for future research.
Elisha R. Frederiks; Karen Stenner; Elizabeth V. Hobman. The Socio-Demographic and Psychological Predictors of Residential Energy Consumption: A Comprehensive Review. Energies 2015, 8, 573 -609.
AMA StyleElisha R. Frederiks, Karen Stenner, Elizabeth V. Hobman. The Socio-Demographic and Psychological Predictors of Residential Energy Consumption: A Comprehensive Review. Energies. 2015; 8 (1):573-609.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisha R. Frederiks; Karen Stenner; Elizabeth V. Hobman. 2015. "The Socio-Demographic and Psychological Predictors of Residential Energy Consumption: A Comprehensive Review." Energies 8, no. 1: 573-609.
Elizabeth V. Hobman; Iain Walker. Stasis and change: social psychological insights into social-ecological resilience. Ecology and Society 2015, 20, 1 .
AMA StyleElizabeth V. Hobman, Iain Walker. Stasis and change: social psychological insights into social-ecological resilience. Ecology and Society. 2015; 20 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElizabeth V. Hobman; Iain Walker. 2015. "Stasis and change: social psychological insights into social-ecological resilience." Ecology and Society 20, no. 1: 1.