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Encouraging voluntary driving practice among learner drivers aged 21–30 in Victoria:a randomised controlled trial of behavioural interventions
No full textThis online randomised controlled trial explored the effects of two novel behavioural interventions and an active control condition on learner drivers’ intentions to complete a minimum of 80 h of voluntary supervised driving practice (practice hours) before taking their driver licence test. The final sample of 658 learner drivers aged 21–30 years from Victoria (Australia) was randomly assigned to one of three online intervention conditions: a persuasive message (n = 247), a planning tool (n = 204), or a handbook (an active control condition) (n = 207). The persuasive message aimed to challenge the misconception that older learner drivers do not require extensive driving practice, while the planning tool supported learners in developing personalised plans for practice. The handbook was an existing educational resource, providing general information for learner drivers, including the benefits of practice hours. Primary outcome variables, measured before and after intervention exposure, included overall likelihood and overall attitude towards completing at least 80 h of supervised driving practice, as well as the total number of practice hours participants planned to complete and would be willing to undertake before sitting their driver licence test. Mixed ANOVAs indicated that the persuasive message significantly increased learners’ overall likelihood and overall attitude, as well as their planned and willing hours. In contrast, the planning tool did not demonstrate significant improvements in the primary outcomes and was associated with higher rates of dropout from the study, suggesting limited acceptability. The handbook (control) reduced overall attitude towards completing 80 practice hours. Additional analyses revealed differences in perceived impact and information-seeking behaviour across intervention conditions, with the effects of the persuasive message and the planning tool (compared to the handbook) being mediated by self-efficacy beliefs rather than beliefs about consequences. The findings provide preliminary support for a persuasive message as a cost-effective and feasible intervention to promote voluntary supervised driving practice among learner drivers. Implementing such messages could enhance road safety by encouraging learners to accumulate adequate driving practice.</p
Exchange rate regime flexibility and firms’ employment
No full textThis paper examines how exchange rate regime flexibility impacts the allocation of labor across firms. Specifically, we investigate how differences in labor-intensity or capital-intensity in production affect employment decisions under various degrees of exchange rate regime flexibility. In a simple theoretical model, we show that firms utilizing more labor-intensive production technologies are more likely to expand their employment when the exchange rate they face becomes less flexible. In contrast, firms employing more capital-intensive technology tend to hire more workers when the exchange rate is more flexible. We test our theory using granular firm-level data from China and provide robust evidence supporting the theoretical predictions.</p
Role overload and safety incidents:an examination of the individual- and team-level buffering effects of psychological safety
No full textA supportive work environment benefits employees and their organizations, and is particularly important for safety outcomes. In this paper we respond to calls in the literature to examine the moderating effects of individual- and team-level psychological safety on the relationship between role overload and safety incidents. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, we proposed that role overload would be positively related to safety incidents. Second, we proposed a multi-level interaction model where individual- and team-level psychological safety attenuate the positive relationship between role overload and safety incidents. Using data obtained from 841 employees nested in 100 teams, our multi-level analyses revealed that role overload positively relates to safety incidents and that psychological safety is a team-, rather than an individual-, level moderating resource that confers protection for employees by buffering the effects of role overload on safety incidents. We also found a main effect for individual-level psychological safety, with higher levels of psychological safety associated with fewer incidents. Based on our findings, employees should individually and collectively invest resources to create a climate of psychological safety to protect themselves and their colleagues from the negative safety implications of role overload. Leaders are advised to focus on interventions to enhance team-level psychological safety including supportive environments to encourage team cohesion, initiative taking, accountability, and via their leadership development.</p
Safe and sound communities:understanding behavioural influences on preventable injuries
No full textThis research sought to identify potential opportunities for mass media campaigns that aim to reduce unintentional preventable injuries in a general adult population. Behavioural influences and antecedent behaviours of preventable injuries that could be measured via an online survey were identified using a rapid literature review into barriers and facilitators towards injuries, including transport, falls, drowning, burns, poisoning, sport, and machinery. A representative sample of adults from Western Australia ( N = 1,022) completed an online survey, and multiple regression analyses were used to identify factors influencing self-reported ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ behaviours. Predictors for safe and unsafe antecedent behaviours differed: Safe behaviours were more strongly associated with beliefs about personal involvement in the issue of preventing injuries and about the preventability of injuries, whereas unsafe behaviours were more strongly associated with socio-demographic factors (e.g., younger age) and by reactance against advice and public health recommendations. Approaching tasks in a habitual manner was a significant predictor of both safe and unsafe behaviours. The findings suggest that different campaign approaches may be required to encourage safe behaviours and to discourage unsafe behaviours. A generalised approach may be appropriate for campaigns designed to encourage safe behaviours, while a tailored approach may be needed for campaigns that aim to reduce unsafe behaviours. In any campaign, it will be important to be mindful of the advice given and the tone used to avoid inducing reactance.</p
