Primary Interests:
- Applied Social Psychology
- Attitudes and Beliefs
- Communication, Language
- Health Psychology
- Neuroscience, Psychophysiology
- Persuasion, Social Influence
- Social Cognition
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Robert A.C. (Rob) Ruiter |
I received my Masters degree in health sciences and my PhD degree in experimental psychology. My research is best situated in the field of applied social psychology and basically studies psychological and behavioural reactions to health education messages. More recently my research interest has shifted from predicting attitude and behavior change to processes of attention allocation and comprehension, two basic prerequisites for effective persuasion. In my research I use self-report measures as well as methods from the cognitive neurosciences including EEG/ERP and fMRI. Other projects I am involved in include projects on applying cognitive ergonomic principles to the design of health education messages and developing and testing health messages in the areas of blood donation, cancer prevention, safe sex, and traffic safety.
Besides my experimental research work at Maastricht University, I have a strong interest in research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa. As a research consultant of the Medical Research Council in South Africa, I am continuously involved in PhD projects in Southern and Eastern Africa, mostly related to the prevention of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. These projects have the goal to develop theory- and evidence-based health education materials while training young students to become fully qualified public health researchers.
Journal Articles:
- Boon, H., James, S., Ruiter, R.A.C., Borne, B. van den, Williams, E., & Reddy, P. (2010). Explaining perceived ability among older people to provide care as a result of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. AIDS Care, 22, 399-408.
- Kessels, L.T.E., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Jansma, B.M. (2010). Increased attention but more efficient disengagement: Neuroscientific evidence for defensive processing of threatening health information. Health Psychology, 29, 346-354. doi: 10.1037/a0019372
- Kools, M., Van de Wiel, M.W.J., Ruiter, R.A.C., Crüts, A., & Kok, G. (2006). The effect of graphic organizers on subjective and objective comprehension of a health education text. Health Education and Behavior, 33, 760-772.
- Mevissen, F.E.F., Meertens, R.M., Ruiter, R.A.C., Feenstra, H., & Schaalma, H.P. (2009). Scenario-based risk information and frequency-based risk information on perceived susceptibility to chlamydia and HIV. Journal of Health Psychology, 14, 78-87.
- Mollen, S., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Kok, G. (2010). Current issues and new directions in Psychology and Health: What are the oughts? The adverse effects of using social norms in health communication (editorial). Psychology and Health, 25, 265–270.
- Mollen, S., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Kok, G. (2010). Current issues and new directions in Psychology and Health: What are the oughts? The adverse effects of using social norms in health communication (editorial). Psychology and Health, 25, 265–270.
- Riet, J. van ‘t, Ruiter, R.A.C., Werrij, M., & De Vries, H. (2010). Investigating message-framing effects in the context of a tailored intervention promoting physical activity. Health Education Research, 25, 343-354.
- Riet, J. van ‘t, Ruiter, R.A.C., Werrij, M., & De Vries, H. (2010). Self-efficacy moderates message-framing effects: The case of skin-cancer detection. Psychology and Health, 25, 339-349.
- Ruiter, R.A.C., Abraham, C., & Kok, G. (2001). Scary warnings and rational precautions: A review of the psychology of fear appeals. Psychology and Health, 16, 613-630.
- Ruiter, R.A.C., De Nooijer, J., Van Breukelen, G., Ockhuysen-Vermey, C.F., & De Vries, H. (2008). Intended coping responses to cancer symptoms in healthy adults: The roles of symptom knowledge, detection behavior, and perceived threat. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 17, 818-826.
- Ruiter, R.A.C., Kessels, L., Jansma, B.M., & Brug, J. (2006). Increased attention for computer-tailored health communications: An event-related potential study. Health Psychology, 25, 300-306.
- Saleh-Onoya, D., Reddy, S.P., Ruiter, R.A.C., Sifunda, S., Wingood, G, & van den Borne, B. (2009). Condom use promotion among isiXhosa speaking women living with HIV in the Western Cape Province, South Africa: A Pilot Study. Aids Care, 21, 817-825.
- Sifunda, S. Reddy, S.P.,Brathwaite, R.B., Stephens, T., Bhengu, S., Ruiter, R.A.C., & Van den Borne, B. (2007). Social construction and cultural meanings of STI and HIV/AIDS related terminology among Nguni-speaking inmates and warders in four South African correctional facilities. Health Education Research, 22, 805-814.
- Van ’t Riet, J., Ruiter, R.A.C., Werrij, M.Q., & De Vries, H. (2008). The influence of self-efficacy on the effects of framed health messages. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38, 800-809.
- Whittingham, J.R.D., Ruiter, R.A.C., Castermans, D., Huiberts, A., & Kok, G. (2008). Designing effective health education materials: Experimental pretesting of a theory-based brochure to increase knowledge. Health Education Research, 23, 414-426.
Robert A.C. (Rob) Ruiter
Department of Work and Social Psychology
Applied Social Psychology Group
Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616
6200 MD Maastricht
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 43 3882413 /1908
Fax: +31 43 3884211