Cem GERCEK1 Nuri DOGAN2 Ceylan GUNDEGER2 Levent YAKAR2
1Hacettepe University, Mathematics and Science Education, TURKEY
2Hacettepe University, Division of Educational Measurement and Evaluation TURKEY.
DOI: 10.14689/ejer.2017.68.4
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Health warnings printed on cigarette packets are an important vehicle in that they demonstrate and inform people of the threats and health risks related to smoking. Increasing the effectiveness of this vehicle is one of the purposes of this study.
Research Methods: Since this research aims to describe the associations between dependent and independent variables and determine whether or not independent variables influence dependent variables, it is a correlational study in the category of descriptive research. The research group was composed of 848 randomly chosen undergraduate students. The data were collected through a questionnaire used in similar research. Path analysis and logistic regression analysis were employed in the analysis of the data.
Findings: According to the findings, the variables of response efficacy, self-efficacy, probability of harm and the severity of harm have high rates of explanation in both groups, but are higher in the combined warning group. It is apparent that the severity of harm and probability of harm will not be influential in behaviours in both groups without the variable of the instrument of fear. The reason for this is that fear can be associated with the function of the moderator.
Implications for Research and Practice: In conclusion, it may be stated that the written text warnings and combined warnings printed on cigarette packets can be influential (and combined warnings are more influential) in preventing individuals from smoking. Enlarging this project and applying it to different groups is important in terms of understanding the durability of the relevant behaviour.
Keywords: Cigarettes cigarette packet health warning behaviour fear health education.