Deck 13: Theories of Health Communication

Question 1

Uncertainty management theory makes all of the following assumptions, EXCEPT:

A) Individuals appraise uncertainty for its meaning.
B) When we appraise uncertainty as danger, we are more likely to experience hope or optimism.
C) Communication is a primary tool for managing uncertainty.
D) Individuals can manage their uncertainty by choosing to seek information or avoid information.
E) Uncertainty can represent opportunity if knowing the typical progression of a disease enables the individual to take preventative action.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to uncertainty management theory, determining who uses what information, for what purpose, and to what effect involves which process?

A) Information acquisition
B) Information seeking
C) Information avoidance
D) Information handling
E) Information use

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following scholars is primarily responsible for developing uncertainty management theory?

A) Charles Berger
B) Merle Mishel
C) Richard Lazarus
D) Dale Brashers
E) Icek Ajzen

Answer 3

D

Question 4

According to uncertainty management theory, when we appraise uncertainty for its meaning, it can take all of the following forms EXCEPT:

A) Ambiguity concerning the state of the illness
B) Complexity regarding treatments and systems of care
C) Predictability of the course of the disease and prognosis
D) A lack of information about the diagnosis and seriousness of the illness
E) None of the above - uncertainty can take all of these forms.

Question 5

After learning about his cancer diagnosis, Sebastian chose not to do further research about the specific form of cancer he had so that he could maintain his uncertainty about how life-threatening it really was. According to UMT, Sebastian is using which of the following processes to manage his uncertainty?

A) Information avoidance
B) Information acquisition
C) Information seeking
D) Information use
E) Information handling

Question 6

According to Uncertainty Management Theory, information seeking is important when:

A) The goal is uncertainty reduction.
B) Old information discourages an appraisal of the uncertainty.
C) Managing uncertainty involves locating contradictory evidence to escalate uncertainty.
D) All of the above.
E) A and C only.

Question 7

Uncertainty management theory suggests that ___ is important when the goal is uncertainty reduction, whereas ____ is important when individuals choose not to confront potentially upsetting news.

A) information use; information handling
B) information seeking; information avoidance
C) information avoidance; information seeking
D) information acquisition; information seeking
E) information handling; information avoidance

Question 8

Uncertainty management theory makes which of the following claims?

A) As individuals appraise uncertainty for its potential harm or benefit, they may experience a range of emotional responses.
B) Appraisals motivate individuals psychologically to manage uncertainty.
C) Encountering new information fuels the re-appraisal of uncertainty.
D) All of the above.
E) A and B only.

Question 9

The communication scholar primarily responsible for advancing the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) is:

A) Leanne Knobloch
B) Dale Brashers
C) Kim Witte
D) Icek Ajzen
E) Merle Mishel

Question 10

Persuasive messages designed to scare people by describing the terrible things that will occur if they fail to do what the message recommends are referred to as:

A) Control appeals
B) Danger appeals
C) Uncertainty appeals
D) Fear appeals
E) Threat appeals

Question 11

According to the EPPM, the belief that "Elevated cholesterol leads to heart disease" is an example of:

A) Perceived severity
B) Perceived threat
C) Perceived susceptibility
D) Perceived efficacy
E) Perceived danger

Question 12

After conducting a multi-million dollar ad campaign to increase flu vaccinations, the Center for Disease Control was shocked to find out that rates of flu vaccinations had actually decreased rather than increased. According to the EPPM, the Center's use of fear appeals produced what kind of an effect?

A) A fearful effect
B) A danger control effect
C) An efficacious effect
D) A persuasive effect
E) A boomerang effect

Question 13

According to the EPPM, danger control processes are initiated when:

A) Perceived threat, efficacy, and motivation are low.
B) Perceived threat, efficacy, and motivation are high.
C) Perceived threat and motivation is low, but perceived efficacy is high.
D) Perceived threat and motivation is high, but perceived efficacy is low.
E) Perceived susceptibility is high, but perceived threat and motivation is low.

Question 14

After watching an ad campaign sponsored by the American Heart Association, Tobey thought "I'm at risk for heart disease because I eat a lot of fast food." According to the EPPM, Tobey has just assessed:

A) Perceived severity
B) Perceived efficacy
C) Perceived susceptibility
D) Response efficacy
E) A normative belief

Question 15

Which of the following scholars is primarily responsible for developing the theory of planned behavior?

A) Charles Berger
B) Richard Lazarus
C) Dale Brashers
D) Icek Ajzen
E) Merle Mishel

Question 16

The theory of planned behavior makes which of the following assumptions?

A) Human behavior is goal-directed.
B) Actions are controlled by intentions, but not all intentions are carried out.
C) Motivation and ability interact to predict behavior.
D) All of the above.
E) A and B only.

Question 17

If a person seeking to reduce blood pressure has a spouse who exercises regularly and a close friend who wants to run a 5K race, the theory of planned behavior predicts that the ___ for exercise will enhance the individual's intentions to walk 30 minutes a day.

A) Subjective norm
B) Behavioral belief
C) Normative belief
D) Behavioral norm
E) Control belief

Question 18

Jayson and Linnea really want to have children, but they struggle with infertility. Although they are highly motivated to have children on their own, their inability to reproduce prevents them from accomplishing their goal. This example best illustrates which of the following concepts from the theory of planned behavior?

A) Normative beliefs
B) Control beliefs
C) Attitudes toward a behavior
D) Intentions
E) Perceived behavioral control

Question 19

The theory of planned behavior makes all of the following claims, EXCEPT:

A) People are more likely to perform a behavior when they evaluate it positively.
B) Individuals' intentions to perform behaviors decrease when they perceive social pressure to do so.
C) The social pressure to perform behaviors comes from the belief that important people think they should perform them.
D) The stronger an individual's intention is to engage in a behavior, the more likely that individual will be to perform the behavior.
E) When behaviors pose no serious problems of control (i.e., when they are volitional), they can accurately be predicted from intentions.

Question 20

Although he enjoys drinking diet soft drinks, Dr. Ledbetter's students and close colleagues believe that the consumption of artificial sweeteners is unhealthy. According to the theory of planned behavior, their belief is one example of a(n):

A) Subjective norm
B) Behavioral intention
C) Normative belief
D) Behavioral belief
E) Control belief

Question 21

According to Dale Brashers, uncertainty can represent danger if knowing the typical progression of a disease enables the individual to take preventative action.

Question 22

Uncertainty Management Theory assumes that people seek to reduce, increase, or maintain their uncertainty through a variety of information-seeking and avoiding behaviors.

Question 23

The EPPM explains how individuals respond to health-related messages using danger control processes and opportunity processes.

Question 24

According to the EPPM, perceived threat determines the degree or intensity of an individual's reaction to a message.

Question 25

According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, people's intentions to perform behaviors increase when they perceive social pressure to do so.

Question 26

The act of estimating or judging the nature or value of something is referred to as an __.

Question 27

Information ___ involves the intentional gathering of information, whereas information ___ is a complex activity that involves more than not seeking information.

Question 28

According to Witte's EPPM, people enact protective behaviors when they try to control the ___, but not when they attempt to control the ___ associated with the threat.

Question 29

When both perceived threat and perceived efficacy are high, ______ processes are initiated.

Question 30

According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, the expectations that people think important others have of them as they consider a particular behavior are referred to as ___.