The examination of credibility effects in predicting achievement, an important step in the study of source credibility effects on attributions, substantiates Birnbaum's findings that variation in the credibility of information can be represented by changes in the weight of the information. Undergraduate subjects (N=65) predicted the performance of…

The role of two nonverbal variables, conversational distance and physical self-presentation, were examined as potential sources of distraction and for their consequent effects on susceptibility to persuasion. The distraction literature was reviewed and synthesized into five propositions, which served as a starting point for predicting how…

This publication contains two reports of research on news media. The first is a review of more than 100 studies conducted between 1955 and 1977 that indicate that both television and newspapers are used in a generally complementary manner, although they do compete with each other for diversionary time. Among the conclusions noted in the report are…

Like other political speakers who have drawn on the personification, identification, and dramatic encounter images of mythology to pressure and persuade audiences, Jimmy Carter evoked the myths of the hero, the American Dream, and the ideal political process in his presidential nomination acceptance speech. By stressing his unknown status, his…

During 1974, the role and effectiveness of the Mexican medicine huckster were examined within the context of a specified information diffusion process. Seventy-five hucksters were observed at work in three states of Mexico (Oaxaca, Michoacan, and Mexico) and in the Federal District (Mexico City area). Twenty-five sales pitches were recorded and…

Privacy is defined and its various social implications discussed in the first part of this paper. The effect of a National Data Center (NDC) and computerized dossiers about people and their past is also considered. It is determined that a computerized information system would present at least four distinct problems to individual identity or…

The Johnson Administration rationale for commitment to Vietnam was supported by a series of claims about the nature of the Vietnam war and the logic of U.S. involvement in it. This paper states and supports the thesis that the exaggerated tone of certainty in the administration case for commitment had a dual effect, undermining both the rhetorical…

The purpose of this study was to determine the predicted differences in the effectiveness of social approval and disapproval cues. Three hypotheses were tested to determine what the effect on communication is if the source of the cue is a peer, family member, or society and what the response will be when a message advocates a position discrepant…

This study was designed to test the effects of speech analysis (television commentary) on audience responses to televised political speeches. Six hypotheses on the so-called instant analysis phenomenon were tested. Subjects for the study were 115 adults drawn from the Fort Collins, Colorado, community. While it was concluded that instant analysis…

This study examined the effects of channel variation on attitude change and source credibility. The fifty-four subjects who made up the four treatments (live, video, audio, control) were given a pre and posttest measure of attitude change consisting of 12 Likert-type scales. Additionally, the three experimental groups were administered a posttest…

A survey of more than 200 students in six high schools in West Virginia and Pennsylvania revealed that television was favored as a news source by a wide margin over newspapers, radio, and news magazines in three areas: general preference, believability, and preference should the consumer be limited to one news source. (GW)

This study examined the impact of different simulated evaluation report styles (use of jargon and data) on educators' agreement with evaluator's recommendations, and on ratings of the evaluator and the report. The jargon-loaded, data-free report was rated most difficult and most technical, with an audience of teachers and administrators.…

Two studies are described in which Asian Americans rated a counselor's performance in a simulated counseling session with an Asian American student. The counselor was rated as more credible and approachable when employing a directive counseling approach than when using a nondirective counseling approach. (Author/MFD)

The growth in cynicism about universities is discussed. None of society's institutions depends more than universities on the public belief that their purposes are more public-spirited and less self-interested. (MLW)

Through a description and comparison of standards for evaluation and criteria for judging naturalistic inquires some potential conflicts in using naturalistic methods are identified. Analysis of problems suggests that compromises in the use of evaluation standards and criteria for naturalistic procedures are usually necessary. (Author/JAZ)