Research Projects
Exploring Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Processing of Online Information in Low Health Literate Audiences
PI: Michael Mackert, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: LeeAnn Kahlor, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Diane Tyler, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing
Funding: The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations (NIH/NINR P30 NR005051, Stuifbergen, PI)
Description: This project is part of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations (CHPR) pilot grant program. The research will investigate cultural and socioeconomic factors that influence the use of online health information among low health literate audiences. The specific focus of the work will be building parenting capacities to help parents manage healthy eating and exercise habits in their children.
Predicting Understanding of Global Warming
PI: LeeAnn Kahlor, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Sonny Rosenthal, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Christine Hawkes, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Assistants: Kyle Rafferty, Sana Saiyed, and Tasha Wiles
Description: This project will develop a coding scheme for assessing the complexity of individuals’ understanding of global warming and tie that complexity to such predictors as risk perception, information seeking behaviors, media use, education, income and political leaning.
Health Literacy and Educational Information in DTC Pharmaceutical Advertising
PI: Michael Mackert, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Adriana Garcia, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Shelby Hausler, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Hillary Ruth, The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Undergraduate Assistants: Kristin Cardwell and Kelly Eidson
Description: This project involves a content analysis of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, with a particular focus on the educational information in such advertisements and elements of the messages that could make them difficult to understand for low health literate audiences.
Undermining of Health Behaviors
PI: Michael Mackert, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Dixie Stanforth, M.S., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Description: This project is investigating the negative impact that undermining – from family, friends, etc. – can have on individuals’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Working with Churches and Community Centers to Test the Efficacy of Culturally Tailored Healthy Pregnancy Promotion Messages to Mexican Immigrant Families in Texas
PI: LeeAnn Kahlor, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Co-Investigator: Yolanda Padilla, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work
Co-Investigator: Michael Mackert, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Funding: The University of Texas at Austin Office Center for Women and Gender Studies
Description: This project will develop and test different strategies for effectively promoting the use of folic acid use among Mexican-born immigrants living in Texas. Topics of interest include the influence of the source of the health communication message and what factors lead to a desire for these individuals to seek (or not seek) more information related to the issue.
Evaluating Websites for Low Literate and Low Health Literate Populations
PI: Michael Mackert, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Funding: The University of Texas at Austin, Office of the Vice President for Research
Description: This project involves evaluating websites (one with information about diabetes, the other related to pediatric care) designed to provide health information to low literate and low health literate populations. The research is focusing on a large-scale evaluation of the usability of these websites using an online sample, as well as investigating the efficacy of delivering these e-health interventions by mobile device.
An Augmented Theory of Planned Behavior Applied to Impersonal Risk Information Seeking and Knowledge
PI: LeeAnn Kahlor, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Advertising
Funding: The University of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies
Description: This project argues for an augmented version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which integrates concepts from a relatively new Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) Model, and subsequently applies this augmented TPB model specifically to impersonal risk information seeking and impersonal risk knowledge. Nearly 830 randomly-selected members of a national panel were surveyed about their attitudes, perceptions and behaviors regarding seeking information about an impersonal environmental risk – global warming. Results are forthcoming in 2007 in Media Psychology.