Finds that the subjective probability model continues to provide some degree of prediction for beliefs (of an individual for circumstances of a single event with multiple causes) prior to the exposure to a message, but that after exposure to a persuasive message, the model did not maintain the same level of accuracy of prediction. Offers several…

Explores the worth of high impact/low probability arguments as "real world" policy arguments. Evaluates four National Debate Tournament (NDT) final round disadvantages by students using the subjective probability model. Finds that although NDT disadvantages were perceived to be a technically sound form of argumentation, they were not…

Analyzes manuscripts that have studied the treatment of communication apprehension. Concludes that all forms of treatment (cognitive modification, systematic desensitization, and skills training) were effective in reducing public speaking anxiety and that the type of self-report scale did not affect the observed effect size. (MS)

Describes a meta-analysis comparing the persuasiveness of one-sided and two-sided messages. Demonstrates that a two-sided message with refutation is more persuasive than a one-sided message, whereas a one-sided message is more persuasive than a two-sided message without refutation. (SR)

Examines, through meta-analytic review, the connection between communication apprehension and communication behavior. Indicates a consistent negative relationship between the level of communication apprehension and communication skills, using a total of 36 studies involving 3742 participants. Finds that as a person becomes more apprehensive both…

Demonstrates that people examine an argument and determine whether to assent based on the quality of the justification provided. Shows that these justifications do not reside in the structure of the argument but in the content of the argument and the interaction of the content with the belief system of the message receiver. (SR)

Conducts a meta-analysis of 23 manuscripts containing information on 30 experiments that examined communication apprehension and cognitive performance. Finds a statistically significant negative correlation between communication apprehension and cognitive performance. (MG)

Compares the rank ordering of cognitive differentiation scores by observers and actors; and methods of construct sampling based on instructional set. Shows that observer and actor codings are inconsistent but that two different methods of sampling are consistent. Suggests the particular score assigned by observers using established procedures may…

Summarizes the literature examining the association between acceptance of rape myths and exposure to pornography. States that nonexperimental methodology shows that exposure to pornography does not increase rape myth acceptance, while experimental studies show that exposure to pornography increases rape myth acceptance. Concludes that experimental…

A meta-analysis explored the association between past studies on intercultural communication effectiveness and intercultural communication competence, and examined the relationship between knowledge-based and skill-based attributes in predicting intercultural communication competence. A total of 16 studies met the criteria of having recoverable…

Examines by meta-analysis the effect that exposure to pornography produces on aggressive behavior under laboratory conditions considering a variety of possible moderating conditions. Demonstrates a homogeneous set of results showing that pictorial nudity reduces subsequent violent behavior, but that depictions of nonviolent sexual behavior and…

Argues not only that critical and traditional social scientific theory have different moral stances but also that they take different approaches to generating knowledge claims. (SR)

Responds to an analysis by D. O'Keefe (in the same issue of this journal) of a research study by the author. States that most of what O'Keefe suggests contains merit but that acceptance of the suggestions still generates a conclusion that two-sided refutational messages constitute the most persuasive form of message. (SR)

Investigates internal dimensions of the Organizational Identification Questionnaire, performing factorial analytic tests of cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Finds that it is unidimensional across organizations and time, but that only 12 of 25 items contribute meaningfully to the scale, and that these 12 items essentially constitute an…

Sex differences in language use have been examined for many years, but no clear-cut conclusions exist. A meta-analysis of the existing literature was conducted regarding powerful/powerless language use, including 30 studies, with a total combined sample size of 3,012. The overall correlation indicated that men use more powerful language than…