Allison J. Lazard|Annie Schmidt|Huyen Vu|Michael Byron|Ellen Peters|Marcella H. Boynton|Noel T. Brewer
Icons for health effects of cigarette smoke: a test of semiotic type
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|The Ohio State University|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
sought identify icons effectively communicate health harms chemicals cigarette smoke participants convenience sample 701 us adults withinsubjects online experiment explored effects icon semiotic type symbolic arbitrary abstract indexical iconic representative concrete outcomes perceived representation affect toward smoking elaboration perceived severity perceived effectiveness noteasytovisualize harms cancer addiction symbolic icons received highest ratings p 001 easytovisualize symptoms heart attackstroke indexical icons received highest ratings p 001 easytovisualize harm reproductive organ damage iconic image best p 001 icon type often larger impact among participants higher health literacy symbolic icons may effective health effects easily visualized iconic indexical icons may effective health effects attributable specific body parts symptoms