School of Social and Behavioral Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
School of Social and Behavioral Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
J Environ Manage. 2019 Feb 15;232:413-420. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.056. Epub 2018 Nov 27.
As the common saying goes: All's well that ends well. This research was the first to explore whether the end effect could be observed in the perception of air pollution and further examined the effect of perceived difference on the end effect. In Experiment 1, participants went through a short trial of 30 severe air pollution pictures and a long trial of 45 pollution pictures containing 15 extra moderate pollution pictures at the end. The results showed preference for the long trial as well as more willingness to experience it again, which verified the end effect. In Experiment 2, the long trial was adjusted to 45 severe air pollution pictures, which caused the end effect to disappear. In Experiment 3, it was confirmed that perceived difference had an impact on the end effect, as the end effect worked when subjects cognitively focused on the variated pollution extent but disappeared when they focused on the air pollution quality. These results advance our understanding by directly demonstrating the influence of perceived difference on the end effect as well as providing a useful view to intervene in people's perception of air pollution. Further theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
结局好，一切都好。本研究首次探讨了在感知空气污染时是否能观察到终末效应，并进一步检验了感知差异对终末效应的影响。在实验 1 中，参与者经历了一个短试（30 张重度空气污染图片）和一个长试（45 张污染图片，其中有 15 张额外的中度污染图片作为结尾）。结果表明，参与者更喜欢长试并更愿意再次体验，这验证了终末效应。在实验 2 中，将长试调整为 45 张重度空气污染图片，导致终末效应消失。在实验 3 中，证实了感知差异对终末效应有影响，因为当被试认知上关注污染程度的变化时，终末效应起作用，但当他们关注空气质量时，终末效应就消失了。这些结果通过直接证明感知差异对终末效应的影响，以及为干预人们对空气污染的感知提供了一个有用的视角，从而推进了我们的理解。进一步讨论了理论和实践意义。
