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Talking about Narrative Messages: The Interaction between Elaboration and Interpersonal Validation

Rader, Kara
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8947-9035
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595433400871909

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Communication.
Past research has found that generally having a discussion with other people about a health message after exposure can help increase the effectiveness of the message. While certain factors, such as conversational valence and the relationship between conversational partners, can impact the effectiveness of such a conversation, there is little research into the causal mechanisms that drive the impact of a discussion on attitudinal outcomes. To investigate the potential mechanisms of how a discussion of a health message can lead to more positive outcomes than there being no discussion, this dissertation turns to the elaboration likelihood model (Petty & Cacioppo, 1986) and self-validation theory (Petty et al., 2002). These theories suggest that discussion of a health message leads to more elaboration about the message. This higher level of elaboration leads to more thought confidence which results in more positive attitudes towards the health topic. Additionally, it is theorized that interpersonal discussion of a health message leads to more perceived validation of thoughts which has also been shown to positively influence though confidence. Dissertation hypotheses were tested within the context of a narrative about BRCA mutation testing for women in their 20s. To test whether elaboration was higher in interpersonal discussions than in other situations, this dissertation asked participants to either to discuss a health message, to think carefully and write about the message, or were not directly asked to elaborate on the health message. Additionally, those who were asked to discuss the health message were given exclusively positive feedback by a confederate (whom participants thought was another participant in the study). Results indicate that those who had a discussion did not engage in more elaboration than those who were asked to write about the message or were not given any elaboration instructions, nor was condition related to differences in perceived validation. However, as expected elaboration and perceived validation were related to thought confidence, which was in turn related to more positive attitudes towards BRCA mutation testing. While results failed to support the notion that interpersonal discussion of a health message leads to more positive attitudes than if no discussion happens, it does offer support for the propositions of self-validation theory (Petty et al., 2002). Additionally, results have important theoretical and practical implications for health communication practitioners.
Shelly Hovick, PhD (Advisor)
Emily Moyer-Guse, PhD (Advisor)
Jesse Fox, PhD (Committee Member)
122 p.
Communication
Elaboration; Narrative; Validation; Self-validation; BRCA; Thought confidence; Communication; Health Communication; Interpersonal discussion

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rader, K. (2020). Talking about Narrative Messages: The Interaction between Elaboration and Interpersonal Validation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595433400871909

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rader, Kara. Talking about Narrative Messages: The Interaction between Elaboration and Interpersonal Validation. 2020. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595433400871909.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rader, Kara. "Talking about Narrative Messages: The Interaction between Elaboration and Interpersonal Validation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1595433400871909

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1595433400871909
336
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