Indicates that issue/advocacy advertising inoculates against attitude change among undergraduate students, while simultaneously protecting sponsors against slippage in ratings of source credibility, after exposure to a persuasive attack on behalf of an opposing position. (SR)

Studies persuasion processes in a value-relevant context. Tests effects of the presence/absence of anecdotal evidence, crossed across three base messages regarding different alcohol use issues. Suggests that a variant of central processing was used: involvement predicted greater message-relevant responses only when the message was congruent with…

Provides a cross-cultural test of J. Bavelas's situational theory of equivocation. Questions students from the United States and Japan about hypothetical scenarios, altered to create either an avoidance-avoidance situation or a nonconflict situation. Finds strong support for the theory--students produced messages exhibiting substantial…

Studies the effectiveness of an educational presentation and the influence of extreme attitudes toward gay men and lesbians on adolescent learning and retention of information about AIDS and HIV transmission. Finds (1) significant increases in knowledge and (2) students with extreme positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians learn more than…

Examines individual differences in the value college students place on communication skills by same-sex peers. Finds that affectively oriented skills such as ego support and comforting are rated as more important than nonaffectively oriented skills such as narrative and persuasive abilities. Suggests that persons differing in cognitive complexity…