Neural effects of environmental advertising: An fMRI analysis of voice age and temporal framing.

Ecological information offered to society through advertising enhances awareness of environmental issues, encourages development of sustainable attitudes and intentions, and can even alter behavior. This paper, by means of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and self-reports, explores the underlying mechanisms of processing ecological messages. The study specifically examines brain and behavioral responses to persuasive ecological messages that differ in temporal framing and in the age of the voice pronouncing them. The findings reveal that attitudes are more positive toward future-framed messages presented by young voices. The whole-brain analysis reveals that future-framed (FF) ecological messages trigger activation in brain areas related to imagery, prospective memories and episodic events, thus reflecting the involvement of past behaviors in future ecological actions. Past-framed messages (PF), in turn, elicit brain activations within the episodic system. Young voices (YV), in addition to triggering stronger activation in areas involved with the processing of high-timbre, high-pitched and high-intensity voices, are perceived as more emotional and motivational than old voices (OV) as activations in anterior cingulate cortex and amygdala. Messages expressed by older voices, in turn, exhibit stronger activation in areas formerly linked to low-pitched voices and voice gender perception. Interestingly, a link is identified between neural and self-report responses indicating that certain brain activations in response to future-framed messages and young voices predicted higher attitudes toward future-framed and young voice advertisements, respectively. The results of this study provide invaluable insight into the unconscious origin of attitudes toward environmental messages and indicate which voice and temporal frame of a message generate the greatest subconscious value.

Analysis of perceived risk among construction workers: a cross-cultural study and reflection on the Hofstede model.

This article presents a cross-cultural study on perceived risk in the construction industry. Worker samples from three different countries were studied: Spain, Peru and Nicaragua. The main goal was to explain how construction workers perceive their occupational hazard and to analyze how this is related to their national culture. The model used to measure perceived risk was the psychometric paradigm. The results show three very similar profiles, indicating that risk perception is independent of nationality. A cultural analysis was conducted using the Hofstede model. The results of this analysis and the relation to perceived risk showed that risk perception in construction is independent of national culture. Finally, a multiple lineal regression analysis was conducted to determine what qualitative attributes could predict the global quantitative size of risk perception. All of the findings have important implications regarding the management of safety in the workplace.

El riesgo percibido y la gestión de la seguridad / The perceived risk and safety management

Introducción: El personal de emergencia convive habitualmente con riesgos inherentes a su profesión. Objetivos: Profundizar acerca del concepto del riesgo percibido como herramienta para gestionar el riesgo ocupacional. Materiales y métodos: El modelo utilizado para la cuantificación del riesgo ha sido el paradigma psicométrico. De esta forma, se realizaron encuestas anónimas en las diferentes estaciones de bomberos. El cuestionario contenía preguntas sociodemográficas, nueve preguntas acerca de distintos atributos del riesgo y una pregunta acerca de la percepción del riesgo en general del sujeto. Resultados: El análisis estadístico muestra dos grupos claramente diferenciados en cuanto a su percepción del riesgo, siendo uno de ellos caracterizado por tener sus integrantes una alta percepción del riesgo y el otro por tener una baja percepción del riesgo. Por último, se muestra que solamente el nivel educacional era una variable significativa en la explicación del riesgo percibido. Conclusiones: Los resultados son discutidos en función de la literatura existente concluyendo que se debe formar a los trabajadores para elevar su percepción del riesgo.

Introduction: Firefighters are workers who usually live with risks inherent with their profession. Objectives: To delve about the concept of perceived risk as a tool for managing occupational risk. Materials and methods: The model used for risk quantification was the psychometric paradigm. Thus, anonymous surveys were conducted at different fire stations. The questionnaire contained demographic questions, nine questions on various attributes of risk and a question about risk perception of the subject in general. Results: Statistical analysis showed two distinct groups in terms of their perception of risk. The first group is represented by members with a high perception of risk and the second one with low risk perception. Finally, it is showed that educational level was only a significant variable for perceived risk explaining. Conclusions: Results are discussed in terms of existing literature concluding that training workers is necessary to raise their perception of risk.

Riesgo percibido en la construcción en España y Perú: un estudio exploratorio / Perceived risk in construction companies in Spain and Peru: an exploratory study

Introducción: El sector de la construcción es uno de los más peligrosos. Se midió la percepción del riesgo que poseen los trabajadores de la construcción. La cultura puede afectar la percepción del riesgo. Objetivos: Dar a conocer el riesgo que perciben los trabajadores de la construcción en España y Perú, comparar y discutir las similitudes y diferencias entre países. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de carácter exploratorio transversal. Se utilizaron dos muestras de trabajadores: Españoles (N=204) y Peruanos (N=210) obtenidas en obras de edificación, obras civiles y centros de formación. El método de cuantificación es el paradigma psicométrico y su adaptación a la seguridad ocupacional de Portell & Solé en la NTP 578 del INSHT de España. Se utilizaron 9 atributos cualitativos del riesgo y un atributo cuantitativo global. Estos atributos se miden mediante escalas Likert de 1 a 7 puntos, mientras que el atributo cuantitativo global se mide mediante una escala de 1 a 100. Resultados: Los trabajadores de ambientes con riesgos potenciales o con maquinaria pesada tienen una percepción alta del riesgo. Los trabajadores de ambos países consideran que poseen suficiente conocimiento sobre la seguridad en el trabajo. Los trabajadores españoles consideran que sus responsables de seguridad y salud no poseen suficiente conocimiento, siendo mejor puntuados en Perú. La probabilidad de ocurrencia obtuvo baja puntuación. La medida cuantitativa global del riesgo no obtuvo diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre ambos países. Conclusiones: se debe estudiar el riesgo percibido en la construcción para mejorar las condiciones de salud de sus trabajadores.

Introduction: The building sector is one of the most dangerous. It was measured the risk perception possessed by construction workers. Culture can affect risk perception. Objectives: Show the risk perceived by construction workers in Spain and Peru, compare and discuss the similarities and differences between countries. Materials and methods: An exploratory, cross sectional study. Two samples of workers were used: Spanish (N=204) and Peruvian (N=210), obtained in building works, civil works and training centers. The quantification method used is the psychometric paradigm and its adaptation to the Portell & Solé's occupational safety in the NPT of INSHT from Spain. Were used 9 qualitative attributes of risk and a global quantitative attribute. These attributes are measured by Likert scale from 1 to 7 points, while the global quantitative attribute is measured on a scale of 1 to 100. Results: Workers in environments with potential hazards or heavy machinery have a high perception of risk. Workers in both countries considered that have knowledge enough about safety at work. Spanish workers consider their health and safety managers do not have enough knowledge, being better rated in Peru. The probability of incident obtained low score. The global quantitative measure of risk did not obtain statistically significant difference between the two countries. Conclusions: perceived risk in construction should be studied to improve the health of their workers.