Assessing digital advertising exposure using a virtual experimental protocol

Authors

Jennifer Cantrell, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
Jeffrey Bingenheimer, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute, School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Shreya Tulsiani, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, DC, USA.
Elizabeth Hair, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, DC, USA.
Donna Vallone, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, DC, USA.
Sarah Mills, Schroeder Institute, Truth Initiative, Washington, DC, USA.
Raquel Gerard, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute, School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
William D. Evans, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute, School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Journal

Digital health

Volume

8

DOI

10.1177/20552076221102260

Keywords

Health communications; behavior change; digital; online; prevention; remote clinical trials; smoking; social media

Abstract

Introduction: The rapid increase in online public education campaigns underscores the need for a better understanding of the effects of exposure to digital advertising and targeted individual-level outcomes. The goal of this study is to develop a virtual experimental protocol to evaluate the dose-response effects of individual-level exposure to digital video ads on campaign outcomes in a naturalistic online browsing context. Methods: Young adults aged 18-24 years ( = 221) completed three 5 min viewing sessions on a realistic mock-up of the YouTube mobile app over a period of 2 weeks, followed by a 10-min survey after the third session. Participants were randomized to view between 0 and 6 exposures of ads from an e-cigarette prevention campaign; respondents viewed a total of 2 ads per session, with 0 to 2 of those ads being non-skippable digital video ads from the campaign and/or a dummy ad. The video ads played prior to short YouTube videos. Outcomes measured were self-reported ad recognition, frequency of ad exposure, and main message knowledge. Results: This study demonstrates a rapidly accessible virtual experimental protocol for evaluating the dose-response effects of digital advertising and individual-level outcomes. Five digital exposures of non-skippable video ads delivered via this platform over a 2-week period generated the highest ad recognition when there were up to six exposures. Higher exposure levels may be needed for message knowledge and ad-content-related effects. Conclusion: This protocol can be extended to investigate dose-response effects and mechanisms of action of individual-level exposure to digital advertising for multiple campaign outcomes, including changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Findings can inform evidence for adequate levels of digital exposure in public education campaigns.

APA Citation

Cantrell, Jennifer; Bingenheimer, Jeffrey; Tulsiani, Shreya; Hair, Elizabeth; Vallone, Donna; Mills, Sarah; Gerard, Raquel; and Evans, William D., "Assessing digital advertising exposure using a virtual experimental protocol" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1157.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1157

Department

Prevention and Community Health