Sender demeanor is an individual difference in the believability of message senders that is conceptually independent of actual honesty. Recent research suggests that sender demeanor may be the most influential source of variation in deception detection judgments. Sender demeanor was varied in five experiments (N = 30, 113, 182, 30, and 35) to…

The efficacy of inoculation theory has been confirmed by decades of empirical research, yet optimizing its effectiveness remains a vibrant line of investigation. The present research turns to psychological reactance theory for a means of enhancing the core mechanisms of inoculation--threat and refutational preemption. Findings from a multisite…

In potentially deceptive situations, people rely on mental shortcuts to help process information. These heuristic judgments are often biased and result in inaccurate assessments of sender veracity. Four such biases--truth bias, visual bias, demeanor bias, and expectancy violation bias--were examined in a judgment experiment that varied nonverbal…

News reports of scientific research are rarely hedged; in other words, the reports do not contain caveats, limitations, or other indicators of scientific uncertainty. Some have suggested that hedging may influence news consumers' perceptions of scientists' and journalists' credibility (perceptions that may be related to support for scientific…

Examines effects of the availability and use of nonverbal information on the detection of deception. Results indicate that the amount of information, both total and nonverbal, does not predict accuracy in detecting deception. Suggests that an interaction between use of nonverbal and verbal information occurs when observers make veracity judgments.…

Examines the relationships among nonverbal behaviors, dimensions of source credibility, and speaker persuasiveness in a public speaking context. Finds numerous associations between nonverbal behaviors and attributions of credibility and persuasiveness. Discusses advantages of analyzing nonverbal cues according to proximal precepts. (SR)

Reviews the development of research on the persuasive effects of evidence, focusing on research dealing with the impact of evidence on persuasive communication. Concludes that evidence makes a difference in persuasive argument, and that the difference is affected by evidence type, along with relevant source, message, and receiver elements (191…

Presents a review and meta-analytic summary of existing studies of metaphor's persuasive effects. Indicates that metaphor appears to exert a small effect on perceptions of source dynamism, but shows no demonstrable impact on competence or character. Concludes that the superior organization explanation of metaphor's persuasive impact was most…

Examines how differences in the verbal and nonverbal behaviors available to persons influence their accuracy in detecting deceptive communication. (JMF)

Explores the dimensionality of the feedback construct, the relationships of feedback to individual performance and satisfaction, and the moderating effects of trust on these associations. Communication of performance appraisal information is found to be a more important correlate of satisfaction and performance for subordinates who express low…

Investigates the effects of communication apprehension on listeners by focusing on the extent to which the apprehension of the sender influences his/her communication effectiveness as perceived by the receiver. (MH)

Offers evidence indicating that a higher level of trust is associated with more consciously intended and greater amounts of self disclosure. (MH)

State-of-the-art examination of lying and deception. Includes motivation, awareness, and consequences; the occasion, time, and nature of deceptive messages; and their detection. (JMF)

This multilevel investigation examined the effect of group interaction and its influence on individual-level membership variables and group assimilation. The study is based on a model of group socialization developed by Moreland and Levine (1982) and was modified in this study to investigate the development and maintenance of highly interdependent…

Discusses the effects of deliberate vagueness on source credibility, agreement and perceived vagueness. See CS 703 560 for availability. (MH)