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BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN THE FUNNY PAPERS: FEEDBACK TO CARTOONISTS ON SAFETY BELT USE
Author(s) -
Mathews R. Mark,
Dix Michael
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-769
Subject(s) - depiction , comic strip , receipt , seat belt , psychology , injury prevention , comics , poison control , applied psychology , medicine , engineering , computer science , medical emergency , artificial intelligence , visual arts , art , world wide web , automotive engineering
A multiple baseline across 8 nationally syndicated cartoonists evaluated the effects of personal advocacy letters encouraging presentations of a specific prevention message—the depiction of safety belt use in comic strips showing motor vehicle occupants. During baseline these cartoonists depicted safety belt use in only 15% (6 of 41) of their strips with occupied vehicles, but following receipt of a personal letter requesting safety belt use 41% (42 of 102) of their strips depicted safety belt use. Four cartoonists showed clear and immediate increases in depiction of safety belt use, 2 demonstrated delayed and somewhat less consistent belt use, and 2 cartoonists showed no change. The approach and results are discussed with regard to advocacy efforts intended to influence presentation of prevention messages in the media.