What the study found
The study found that people’s empirical expectations, meaning what they think others actually do, had a stronger influence on intentions to give children a double surname than normative expectations, meaning what they think others approve of. The authors report that this pattern appeared in Italy after a 2022 Constitutional Court ruling allowed children to take a double surname unless parents agreed otherwise.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that changing empirical expectations may be important for encouraging the adoption of double surnames. They suggest this could support greater gender equality in family naming practices.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used two survey experiments with Italian online quota samples. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of four hypothetical scenarios designed to change their empirical and normative expectations about double surnames.
What worked and what didn't
In the first experiment, empirical expectations had a stronger effect on intentions than normative expectations. The second experiment confirmed this pattern, but the effect depended on which reference network was considered.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not provide details about sample size, effect sizes, or the exact content of the hypothetical scenarios. It also does not describe limitations beyond noting that the second experiment’s effect depended on the reference network considered.
Key points
- The study focused on intentions to adopt double surnames for children in Italy.
- Empirical expectations were more influential than normative expectations.
- Two survey experiments were conducted with Italian online quota samples.
- The second experiment found that the effect depended on the reference network considered.
- The authors link the findings to greater gender equality in family naming practices.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Empirical expectations strongly shaped double-surname intentions in Italy
- Authors:
- Renzo Carriero, Giulia Maria Dotti Sani, Riccardo Ladini, Francesco Molteni
- Institutions:
- Collegio Carlo Alberto, University of Milan, University of Milan, University of Milan, University of Turin
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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