Research Design Connection: Darkness and Concern
Dong and Zhong investigated links between lighting levels and concerns about catching an illness from someone else. They determined that “participants…in a dimly lit room…or wearing sunglasses…tended to estimate a lower risk of catching contagious diseases from others than did those…in a brightly lit room or wearing clear glasses. The effect persisted in both laboratory…and real-life settings.” The authors clearly state implications of their findings: “If visual darkness impacts perceived risk of contagion, then improving illumination in developing worlds might be a pressing task in the fight against epidemics.” The research also suggest that brighter lighting might be a way to encourage people “working in organizations or public settings where the chance of catching contagious diseases is relatively high (e.g., cinemas, theaters, gymnasiums, stadiums, hospitals and aircraft), to be more cautious about disease transmission.” During one study, the intensity of light was 940 lux in the brighter rooms where data …
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