A new research paper has found that people’s opinions about pop packs and the bags they own are largely based on the way they look.
The research by psychologists at the University of Sydney found that a lot of people thought pop packs were an “appealing” choice, even though they could be damaging.
“Pop pack bags have become a popular option for many Australians, but this study has shown that many people’s attitudes about them are often driven by perceptions of the bag itself,” Dr Jody Stoddart said.
While many people are aware of the plastic bags being a significant issue, the survey also found that it was the size of the bags that was seen as most important.
It found that when asked if they felt they were “safe” in a pop pack, 61 per cent of respondents felt that the bag was small, while 38 per cent felt it was medium, and only 16 per cent said it was large.
Pop packers also rated the size and weight of the pop pack as very important, with 55 per cent saying it was “very important”.
“We found that many Australians were likely to overestimate the importance of the size, but overestimate their importance as well,” Dr Stoddarts said.
“This was in contrast to some other studies which found that small bags and pop packs did not make people feel safer.”
Dr Stoddards research also found a difference in attitudes towards other kinds of bags.
People who felt that their own bags were large were more likely to feel that they were safe in a bag with a “medium” or “large” size than those who felt they weren’t.
“The main takeaway from this research is that people often perceive that they are safe in pop packs but in reality this is not the case,” Dr Saintoddart told ABC News.
“Pop packs are used by many people to carry small items, which can be hazardous to their health and the environment.”
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