Makes a case for attending to developments in the study of attitude. Considers how the attitude construct has been conceptualized. Examines contemporary thinking about attitudes and draws out implications of that thinking for the study of persuasion. (RS)

Explores some basic concepts and premises of E. Noelle-Neumann's spiral of silence theory, based on data from Israel during the Intifada. Suggests that the information environment is the primary factor in specifying the role of social adjustment mechanisms versus event information in determining the direction in which public opinion evolves. (SR)

Examines the relative persuasiveness of statistical evidence versus report evidence while controlling for the effect of vividness. Finds that, when report evidence takes the form of a story, statistical evidence is more persuasive after a two-day delay and, when bolstered by vividness, after a one-week delay. (SR)

Examines college students' level of argumentativeness in relation to persuasion. Finds that highly argumentative individuals experienced more attitude change than their less argumentative counterparts. Shows that topic had no effect upon attitude change and that topic did not interact with argumentativeness. (SR)

Confirms a model of language intensity effects based on information processing theory, in which attitude change was a multiplicative function of message discrepancy, perceived credibility, and message strength, adjusted for counterarguing, with trustworthiness as the salient source perception variable. (SR)

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of audiotaped counterattitudinal messages (messages counter to a person's irrational beliefs that are designed to help change negative attitudes) on communication apprehension. One hundred and fifty undergraduate speech communication students divided into control and experimental groups listened to…

A study focusing on argument as a receiver-contained phenomenon assessed the differential importance of (new) arguments stimulated by a message, as opposed to (old) arguments previously integrated. Data were collected from 207 college students in a pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest design. The subjects provided information on their attitudes…

Proposes and experimentally tests mood adjustment approach, complementing mood management theory. Discusses how results regarding self-exposure across time show that patterns of popular music listening among a group of undergraduate students differ with initial mood and anticipation, lending support to mood adjustment hypotheses. Describes how…

Uses meta-analysis to test three models of the "sleeper" effect (a theory proposing that in the long term low credible sources may actually attain greater attitude change in message recipients than high credible sources). Concludes that the sleeper effect does exist, and offers suggestions for practitioners and theorists. (SR)

Examines how individual status characteristics (expertise, occupational status, physical attractiveness, and majority and minority argument quality) influence minority member persuasiveness. Demonstrates that, although all variables influenced perceived status, only relative argument quality had a direct impact on attitude change. (SR)

Examines the strength of the effects of happiness and sadness on attitude change, and compares these effects with the effect of anger on attitude change and persuasive message processing. Finds that message strength was positively correlated with attitude, intention and behavior, but was negatively correlated with negative thoughts, and counter…

Examines the experiential attitude function and tests whether a message targeted at this function would elicit attitude change in 139 undergraduate students. Finds that although the functional target of the message was not related to posttest attitudes, conformity to message recommendations was contingent upon the discrepancy between the…

Examines the performance of texts ("trigger scripting") as a method of modifying sexual attitudes and assertiveness in a dating context in order to prevent date rape or unwanted sexual aggression. Suggests that live performance alone and live performance plus discussion cam modify sexual attitudes and increase awareness of the issues.…

Aided by her advisor, a communication apprehensive college senior majoring in speech communication at a small rural college developed a project designed to help herself and other apprehensives through cognitive modification. Six students enrolled in a speech communication course who were classified as communication apprehensive by the Personal…

Extends previous modality and source cue studies by manipulating argument quality. Randomly assigned college students by class to an argument quality by source attribute by modality factorial experiment. Finds the print mode produces only argument main effects, and audio and video modes produce argument by cue interactions. Finds data inconsistent…