Question 1

Any deliberate attempt to bring about an attitude change by the transmission of information is called

Accepted Answer

Persuasion is the process of attempting to change someone's attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors by providing information or arguments. It is a deliberate process, unlike coercion or brainwashing, which involve force or manipulation, and unlike groupthink, which is a phenomenon of conformity within groups.

Question 2

On a television commercial several teenagers are supposedly captured on a hidden camera spontaneously talking about "how good" a new movie is. The use of the hidden camera illustrates which condition under which persuasion occurs?

Accepted Answer

The use of a hidden camera in the commercial suggests that the teenagers are unaware they are being recorded, which implies they have nothing to gain from their comments, making their reactions appear more genuine and persuasive.

Question 3

If a person has negative attitudes toward a group, she or he will prefer not to become socially close to members of this group, which can be measured using a(n)

Accepted Answer

Social distance scales are specifically designed to measure the extent to which individuals prefer to avoid or approach social interactions with members of various groups, reflecting their attitudes towards those groups.

Question 4

Which of the following is a condition that encourages attitude change according to research by Aronson and others?

Accepted Answer

Facts and statistics that support the message can make it more persuasive, encouraging attitude change by providing credible evidence.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors that determine the success or failure of persuasion?

Accepted Answer

The three key factors that determine the success or failure of persuasion are the audience, the message, and the communicator. Reinforcement is not typically listed among these primary factors in persuasion theories.

Question 6

Which of the following would encourage attitude change?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would encourage attitude...

Question 7

A group that an individual identifies with and uses as a standard for social comparison is called a __________ group.

Accepted Answer

A reference group is a social group that an individual uses as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behavior. It influences an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors by providing a basis for comparison.

Question 8

Which attitude measurement technique would ask a person to say whether or not this person would allow a member of a particular group "to marry a family member"?

Accepted Answer

A social distance scale measures how willing individuals are to accept members of various groups into closer social circles, including family through marriage.

Question 9

Persuasion involves

Accepted Answer

Persuasion is defined as a deliberate attempt to influence or change people's attitudes, beliefs, or actions by providing them with information, arguments, or appeals.

Question 10

Research suggests that if you wish to persuade an audience, both sides of the argument should

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that presenting both sides of an argument is more effective with a well-informed audience. This audience likely already knows some of the counterarguments, so addressing them directly can enhance credibility and persuasiveness. In contrast, for poorly informed audiences, presenting only one side of the argument might be more effective, as they might not have enough background knowledge to understand or appreciate the counterarguments.

Question 11

The attitudes of students in Theodore Newcomb's famous Bennington College study were highly influenced by

Accepted Answer

Theodore Newcomb's Bennington College study showed that students' attitudes were influenced by their reference group membership, as they adopted the liberal views of the faculty and older students they identified with.

Question 12

Tori is asked to respond to statements on various issues, such as health care, gun control, and abortion, on a five-point scale, ranking the statements from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Tori is responding to a(n)

Accepted Answer

Tori is responding to an attitude scale, which is designed to measure a person's stance or perspective on various issues through a range of responses from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." This method is commonly used in surveys to gauge opinions on different topics.

Question 13

A reference group is any group

Accepted Answer

A reference group is defined by the influence it has on an individual, particularly in terms of adopting or comparing values, attitudes, and behaviors, rather than by direct interaction or membership.

Question 14

Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the students that attended liberal Bennington College but maintained their conservative attitudes?

Accepted Answer

A reference group is a group that individuals compare themselves to for the purpose of evaluating their behaviors, attitudes, and norms. If the students maintained their conservative attitudes despite attending the liberal Bennington College, it indicates that the college did not serve as their reference group for shaping these particular attitudes. Instead, their family and hometown friends, who likely share their conservative views, would more accurately be considered their reference group.

Question 15

The success or failure of attempted persuasion can usually be understood by considering the characteristics of the

Accepted Answer

The success or failure of attempted persuasion is often analyzed through the lens of the source (communicator), the content (message), and the receiver (audience). These elements are fundamental in understanding how persuasive communication works.

Question 16

Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the students from conservative homes who attended liberal Bennington College and exhibited a significant shift toward more liberal attitudes?

Accepted Answer

Reference groups are those that individuals look up to or aspire to be like, which influences their attitudes and behaviors. In the context of students from conservative homes attending a liberal college and shifting toward more liberal attitudes, Bennington College would be considered their reference group because it is the institution influencing their change in attitudes. Their family and hometown friends, while still significant, would not be considered their primary reference group in this context of changing attitudes, as the students are moving away from those conservative views towards the liberal views more prevalent at Bennington College.

Question 17

When used in public polls, which of the following provides useful information about the feelings of large segments of the population regarding various issues, such as immigration, abortion, gun control, etc.?

Accepted Answer

Attitude scales are designed to measure people's attitudes or opinions on various topics, making them useful for gauging public sentiment on issues like immigration, abortion, gun control, etc.

Question 18

Which attitude measurement would most likely ask respondents to express agreement or disagreement on a five-point scale regarding various issues?

Accepted Answer

An attitude scale is designed to measure people's attitudes by asking them to respond with their degree of agreement or disagreement on a Likert-type scale, which often ranges from strong agreement to strong disagreement, making it the most likely choice for this description.

Question 19

Research on persuasion suggests that attitude change is encouraged when the communicator is

Accepted Answer

Research on persuasion has consistently shown that communicators who are likable are more effective in encouraging attitude change. This is because audiences tend to be more receptive to messages from individuals they find appealing or relatable.

Question 20

A reference group is any group

Accepted Answer

A reference group serves as a standard for individuals to evaluate their own behaviors, attitudes, and values. It does not necessarily require membership or face-to-face contact.

Quiz 16: Social Thinking and Social Influence

Any deliberate attempt to bring about an attitude change by the transmission of information is called

On a television commercial several teenagers are supposedly captured on a hidden camera spontaneously talking about "how good" a new movie is. The use of the hidden camera illustrates which condition under which persuasion occurs?

If a person has negative attitudes toward a group, she or he will prefer not to become socially close to members of this group, which can be measured using a(n)

Which of the following is a condition that encourages attitude change according to research by Aronson and others?

Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors that determine the success or failure of persuasion?

Which of the following would encourage attitude change?

A group that an individual identifies with and uses as a standard for social comparison is called a __________ group.

Which attitude measurement technique would ask a person to say whether or not this person would allow a member of a particular group "to marry a family member"?

Persuasion involves

Research suggests that if you wish to persuade an audience, both sides of the argument should

The attitudes of students in Theodore Newcomb's famous Bennington College study were highly influenced by

Tori is asked to respond to statements on various issues, such as health care, gun control, and abortion, on a five-point scale, ranking the statements from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." Tori is responding to a(n)

A reference group is any group

Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the students that attended liberal Bennington College but maintained their conservative attitudes?

The success or failure of attempted persuasion can usually be understood by considering the characteristics of the

Which of the following is a FALSE statement regarding the students from conservative homes who attended liberal Bennington College and exhibited a significant shift toward more liberal attitudes?

When used in public polls, which of the following provides useful information about the feelings of large segments of the population regarding various issues, such as immigration, abortion, gun control, etc.?

Which attitude measurement would most likely ask respondents to express agreement or disagreement on a five-point scale regarding various issues?

Research on persuasion suggests that attitude change is encouraged when the communicator is

A reference group is any group