Dr Bahar Tuncgenc, a Research Fellow in the University of Nottingham's School of Psychology and member of CANDAL, has recently published a new study exploring why people are more likely to follow Covid-19 safety rules, if their think their friends and family are also doing it.

From April to June 2020, over 6500 participants from 110 countries contributed to the study's online survey. Participants were asked people how much they, their friends and their fellow citizens approved of and followed the Covid-19 guidelines in their country. The study team weren’t interested in the actual behaviour of their friends or fellow citizens, but what the respondents thought others were doing. This is crucial, as people are more likely to accept new social rules when they have high expectations that others are following the rules too.

Dr Tuncgenc published an article in The Conversation explaining the details behind and study, and she recently appeared on local digital TV channel Notts TV (watch from 02:02).

The study's finding's were also published in the British Journal of Psychology.