A Gun Safety Video Can Reduce Children's Unsafe Behavior Around Real Guns: A Randomized Clinical Trial
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 245
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Behavioral: Gun Location
研究概览
简要总结
The investigators' previous research has shown that children exposed to media characters with guns in movies and video games are more likely to use real guns themselves (e.g., touch them, hold them, pull the trigger). This research tests whether exposure to a gun safety video a week before the study can help counteract dangerous behavior around guns.
详细描述
Guns are prominent in movies that target children. An analysis of top selling films found that the depiction of guns in violent scenes in PG-13 films that target youth has increased from the level of G and PG files in 1985 when the rating was introduced, to the level of R films by 2005, to exceed the level of R films since 2012, a trend that has continued.
Research in the investigator's lab has shown that children are more likely to use guns (e.g., handle them, pull the trigger) after exposure to movie characters who use guns. The investigators replicated this study using video games, and also found that children who had taken a gun safety course were less likely to engage in dangerous behavior around firearms. However, it is difficult to draw causal inferences about the gun safety course because children were not randomly assigned to take or not take a gun safety course.
The present research will aim to reduce dangerous behavior around firearms by first exposing participants to a gun safety video recorded by The Ohio State University Chief of Police. The control video is about car safety. Children will see the videos about a week before they come into the lab.
In the lab, children will be tested in pairs. They will first watch a film clip from one of two different PG rated films, either in its original form (with guns) or with the guns edited out. After exposure to the film, participants will be placed in a room with toys, including two real unloaded guns that have been modified for safety and include a trigger pull counter.
The study uses 2 (gun safety video vs. car safety video) X 2 (movie with guns vs. movie without guns) between-subjects factorial design.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Other
- 盲法
- Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
盲法说明
Participants did not know which condition they were in. Participants' parents were aware of the deception (hidden gun) and what condition their children were in (gun safety or seatbelt safety; movie with or without guns). Research personnel knew conditions as well. Research assistants who transcribed recorded laboratory sessions did not know what condition they were coding (eg. what type of movie participants watched)
Research assistants coding the recorded observational data will be blind to the conditions of the participants they are coding, as well as the experimental hypotheses of the study.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 8 Years 至 12 Years（Child）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Age 8-12 yrs
- •No prior participation in the study
- •Able to schedule participation with a known peer (8-12yo).
排除标准
- •Younger than 8 yrs old
- •Older than 12 yrs old
- •Prior study participation
- •Could not schedule participation with a known peer (8-12yo)
结局指标
主要结局
Behavioral: Gun Location
时间窗: 20 minutes play session
Trained research assistants, blind to video game condition and experimental hypotheses, will independently code the play session videos. Coders will identify whether the participants found the handguns, how long the participants held the handgun, and whether or not they pulled the trigger.
Behavioral: Gun Location Response - Told Adult
时间窗: 20 minutes play session
If the participants found the handguns, the coders will identify whether the participants told an adult.
Behavioral: Gun Location Response - Touched Gun
时间窗: 20 minute play session
If the participants found the handguns, the coders will identify whether the participants touched the handgun.
Behavioral: Gun Holding Time
时间窗: 20 minutes play session
If participants handle the gun, coders will record how long the gun was held.
Behavioral: Trigger Pulled
时间窗: 20 minute play session
When the gun was handled, this measures whether or not the participant(s) pulled the trigger.
Number of Trigger Pulls
时间窗: 20 minutes play session
The two guns hidden in the playroom contain sensors that count how often the trigger is pulled with sufficient force to discharge the gun. A counter on the weapon displays the number of pulls, which will be entered into a data file along with the observational data described below. Observational data will also be used to confirm trigger pull counts. Note: This measure includes all 216 participants who found the handguns.
Gun Pointing With Trigger Pull
时间窗: 20 minute play session
Trained research assistants, blind to video game condition and experimental hypotheses, will independently code the play session videos. If participants pulled the trigger, were they pointing the gun at themselves or their partners? Calculations done using all participants who found a firearm.
次要结局
- Attitudes Toward Guns(After 20 minutes play session, 5 minute questionnaire)
研究者
Brad Bushman
Professor of Communication and Psychology
Ohio State University