Abstract
Conducted 3 experiments involving 2 different manipulations of the comprehensibility of persuasive arguments using 885 university undergraduates as Ss. Lowering comprehensibility lessened acceptance of the conclusion of a message. Since argument comprehensibility did not interact with discrepancy size, communicator credibility, or counterarguing, this finding proved extremely general. Explanation focused on 2 processes that accompanied the deterioration of comprehensibility: (a) the lesser amount of supportive information that was received and (b) the more negative affective reaction that was produced. Exp III assessed the 2 explanations and concluded that both contributed to the message comprehensibility effects. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 758-773 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 1974 |
Keywords
- comprehensibility of persuasive arguments, opinion change, college students
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science