Question 1

Pfau (1992) and colleagues' study on seventh graders and smoking prevention suggests that inoculation

Accepted Answer

Pfau and colleagues showed that inoculation works better for students with high self-esteem in their study on seventh graders and smoking prevention.

Question 2

In most cases, the most effective strategy when arguing against an opposing message is :

Accepted Answer

Two-sided refutational messages are the most effective strategy when arguing against an opposing message because they not only present counterarguments but also refute them. This approach is effective because it directly addresses opposing arguments and provides compelling evidence to refute them, which increases the credibility of the message and persuades the audience to agree with the sender's message.

Question 3

Research shows that inoculating people against one particular argument

Accepted Answer

Inoculating people against one argument can make them more resistant to other arguments by strengthening their overall ability to critically evaluate and counteract persuasive messages.

Question 4

In her opening remarks to a jury, a defense attorney informs the jury that the prosecution will try to portray her client as a monster. She asks them to keep an open mind until they've heard all the evidence. The defense attorney is using

Accepted Answer

The defense attorney is forewarning the jury by giving them a heads up that the prosecution will be portraying her client in a negative light. This can help the jurors be aware of their biases and try to remain impartial until all the evidence is presented.

Question 5

Because people, in general, tend to be risk averse, the best strategy to use is

Accepted Answer

People, being generally risk-averse, are more likely to be influenced by messages that highlight potential losses rather than potential gains, facts, or emotional appeals. This is because the fear of losing something motivates people to take action to avoid that loss.

Question 6

A two-sided message tends to be ineffective if

Accepted Answer

A two-sided message is meant to acknowledge opposing arguments and refute them with evidence, but if opposing arguments are only acknowledged without being refuted, then the message is incomplete and ineffective.

Question 7

Fatima was asked to answer a difficult hypothetical question. The question stated, "If you were an animal shelter director and you were given the following choices, which action would you choose?" The options were: Option 1: Guarantee that 20 out of 60 animals will not be euthanized.
Option 2: Given a 33.3 percent chance that all 60 animals will be saved, and a 66.6 percent chance that all of the animals will be euthanized.
This set of options is best termed

Accepted Answer

Gain-framed messages emphasize the positive outcome of a behavior or decision. Option 1 guarantees a positive outcome for a portion of the animals, making it a gain-framed message.

Question 8

According to research on message organization, the least effective approach is a/an

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that the pyramidal order, where the main points are placed in the middle, is the least effective because it can cause the audience to lose interest before reaching the main points.

Question 9

People generally fear risking something they already have ($1,000.) over the prospect of gaining something they don't have ($4,000.). This tendency is reflected in:

Accepted Answer

This tendency is a cognitive bias known as loss aversion, where people are more motivated by avoiding losses rather than achieving gains. Loss-framed messages emphasize the potential losses one might face if they do not take action, and are more effective at motivating people to take action compared to gain-framed messages.

Question 10

___________ is best put to use when receivers rely on central processing.

Accepted Answer

Evidence is best put to use when receivers rely on central processing. When someone is processing information centrally, they are actively analyzing and evaluating information. Providing evidence to support the argument can be effective in this case because it appeals to the rational side of the receiver's thinking.

Question 11

An inoculation defense is

Accepted Answer

An inoculation defense is a combination of weak arguments attacking a message and stronger arguments refuting those attacks. This strategy aims to build up resistance to potential future attacks on the message or position. It works by preparing individuals to counteract the opposition's arguments and to strengthen their existing beliefs or attitudes in the face of future challenges.

Question 12

When a defense attorney informs the jury that her opponent will try to scare them about what kind of monster her client is, she is using

Accepted Answer

The defense attorney is providing forewarning to the jury about the opponent's tactics before they use them.

Question 13

A company is set to launch a new product line. At first, only the brand's logo is displayed in various media, without any explanation of what the brand is or what the brand does. Greater familiarity with the logo, in and of itself, tends to make consumers like the brand more. This strategy is known as:

Accepted Answer

This strategy is known as the mere exposure effect, which is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to develop a preference for things that they are more familiar with. By repeatedly exposing consumers to the brand's logo, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards the brand.

Question 14

Which of the following sayings best describes Mere Exposure Theory?

Accepted Answer

The saying "things tend to grow on us" best describes Mere Exposure Theory. This theory proposes that people tend to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them, and repeated exposure can increase the liking of an object or person.

Question 15

Which of the following statements regarding order effects is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Order effects are particularly significant in auditory message delivery because the sequence can affect recall and persuasion. Early and late positions in a message sequence (primacy and recency effects) are often better remembered and more influential than information presented in the middle, especially in auditory channels where listeners cannot easily go back to review information.

Question 16

The political practice of sending in hecklers to interfere with an opponent's campaign is known as

Accepted Answer

The political practice of sending in hecklers to interfere with an opponent's campaign is known as bracketing.

Question 17

Under which circumstances would the quality, rather than the quantity, of arguments matter most?

Accepted Answer

When listeners have high involvement, they are more likely to scrutinize the information provided and look for quality arguments rather than simply being convinced by the quantity of arguments presented. In contrast, when listeners have low involvement, they are more likely to be influenced by the sheer number of arguments presented rather than their quality. Whether the conclusion is explicit or implicit does not have a significant impact on the relative importance of quality versus quantity of arguments.

Question 18

In general, which of the following is most true?

Accepted Answer

Statistical proof is based on a larger sample size and can be more representative of the population, whereas anecdotal proof is based on individual experiences and may not be applicable to the larger population. Additionally, statistical proof can be objectively analyzed and replicated, while anecdotal proof may be biased or influenced by personal beliefs and experiences. Therefore, statistical proof is generally considered more persuasive in making a case or argument.

Question 19

An advertisement or commercial is better off using an explicit, as opposed to an implicit conclusion, if/when:

Accepted Answer

When the audience has little knowledge about the topic or issue, an explicit conclusion is necessary to make it clear what the advertisement or commercial is trying to convey. This will help ensure that the audience understands the message being presented.

Question 20

Abby and Giovanni attended an art show and listened to an artist speak about the lack of funding for the arts. Abby did not find the topic personally relevant. On the contrary, Giovanni was very passionate about the topic. Based on the ELM, how will Abby and Giovanni process the speaker's argument?

Accepted Answer

The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) suggests that individuals process persuasive messages through either a central route or a peripheral route. Giovanni, who is passionate about the topic, is more likely to engage in central processing, focusing on the strength and quality of the arguments. Abby, who does not find the topic personally relevant, is more likely to engage in peripheral processing, focusing on superficial cues such as the quantity of arguments rather than their quality.

Quiz 1: Why Study Persuasion