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Measuring feelings about choices and risks: The Berlin Emotional Responses to Risk Instrument (BERRI)
Author(s) -
Petrova Dafina,
Cokely Edward T.,
Sobkow Agata,
Traczyk Jakub,
Garrido Dunia,
GarciaRetamero Rocio
Publication year - 2023
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/risa.13946
Subject(s) - feeling , affect (linguistics) , psychology , framing (construction) , framing effect , social psychology , clinical psychology , structural engineering , communication , persuasion , engineering
Abstract We introduce a brief instrument specifically validated for measuring positive and negative feelings about risks—the Berlin Emotional Responses to Risk Instrument (BERRI). Based on seven studies involving diverse adults from three countries ( n = 2120), the BERRI was found to robustly estimate anticipatory affective reactions derived from subjective evaluations of positive (i.e., assured, hopeful, and relieved) and negative emotions (i.e., anxious, afraid, and worried). The brief BERRI outperformed a 14‐item assessment, uniquely tracking costs/benefits associated with cancer screening among men and women (Studies 1 and 2). Predictive validity was further documented in paradigmatic risky choice studies wherein options varied over probabilities and severities across six contexts (health, social, financial, technological, ethical, and environmental; Study 3). Studies 4–6, conducted during the Ebola epidemic and COVID‐19 pandemic, indicated BERRI responses were sensitive to subtle effects caused by emotion‐related framing manipulations presented in different cultures and languages (the United States, Spain, and Poland). Study 7 indicated BERRI responses remained stable for 2 weeks. Although the BERRI can provide an estimate of overall affect, choices were generally better explained by the unique influences of positive and negative affect. Overall, results suggest the novel, brief instrument can be an efficient tool for high‐stakes research on decision making and risk communication.