PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Dominica Salvatore-Hale
MA-Research
January 2004

Effects of Knowledge Accuracy and Confidence about Organ Donation Facts on the Willingness to Donate Organs

    Previous research has shown that knowledge about organ donation influences willingness of potential donors.  The present study assessed the role of confidence with either correct or incorrect answers to questions regarding donation.  Undergraduate psychology students at Santa Monica College were given an 18-item true/false questionnaire to test accurate knowledge of organ donation (IV), and mean knowledge confidence (IV) on a 7-point scale.  Subjects were asked to answer 4 demographic questions and rate donor willingness (DV) on a 7-point scale.  Two one-way ANOVAs revealed significant effects of mean confidence levels (low, medium and high) on willingness for both correctly answered questions and incorrectly answered questions.  Results showed that donor willingness increased with high confidence and accurate knowledge.  However, donor willingness decreased with inaccurate knowledge across low, medium and high confidence levels.  Results and implications for future research are discussed.

Psychology Department * CSULB * 1250 Bellflower Blvd. * Long Beach, CA  90840-0901 * 562-985-5001