Fig 1.
Research framework.
Table 1.
Overview of studies.
Fig 2.
Perceived threat of lifting COVID-19 measures and perceived restriction of liberties if maintaining COVID-19 measures.
Note: Comparison of reported mean values of perceived threat when lifting the COVID-19 measures and perceived restriction on civil liberties when maintaining the measures, overall and for each experiment. Perceived threat is measured on a 7-point-scale with four items (“If I vote to lift the measures, I put others at risk/others are put at risk/I will harm others/others are harmed;” 1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). Perceived restriction of civil liberties is measured on a 7-point-scale with four items (“If I vote to maintain the measures, I am restricted in my freedom/others are restricted in their freedom/public and private life is restricted for me/public and private life is restricted for others;” 1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). Significant differences between values are marked.
Fig 3.
Perceived difficulty making decision and confidence in decision.
Note: Reported mean values of perceived difficulty in deciding between lifting or maintaining the COVID-19 measures and perceived confidence in decision, overall and for each experiment. Perceived difficulty is measured on a 7-point-scale (“How difficult or easy was it for you to decide on a scenario in the referendum?” 1 = very easy, 7 = very difficult). Perceived confidence is measured on a 7-point-scale (“How certain or uncertain are you about your decision in the referendum?” 1 = very uncertain, 7 = very certain). Significant differences between values are marked.
Fig 4.
Votes in favor of lifting COVID-19 measures.
Note: Proportion of votes in favor of lifting measures, considering the presented trade-off. Significant differences between experiments are marked.
Fig 5.
Votes in favor of lifting COVID-19 measures (Experiment 1).
Note: Proportion of votes in favor of lifting measures, considering the presented trade-off. There are no significant differences between experimental groups on the significance level of 5%.
Fig 6.
Votes in favor of lifting COVID-19 measures (Experiment 2).
Note: Proportion of votes in favor of lifting measures, considering the presented trade-off. Significant differences between experiments are marked.
Table 2.
Logistic regression results for the decision to lift measures (Experiment 3).
Fig 7.
Votes in favor of lifting COVID-19 measures (Experiment 3).
Note: Proportion of votes in favor of lifting measures, considering the presented trade-off. Proportion tests between groups (within and between Infection Rate and Unemployment Rate) show no significant differences. In addition, proportion tests between Experiment 1 and 3 have been carried out. Asterisks indicate significant differences between the treatment group in Experiment 1 and the indicated treatment group in Experiment 3.