Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2013
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13733625162021-08-03T06:18:26Z Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency Gretton, Jeremy David Psychology Social Psychology Behavioral Sciences social psychology attitude-behavior consistency moderation attitude strength attitudes The present research had two main goals. First, the research examined whether deliberation at the time of behavior changes the effect of knowledge complexity on attitude-behavior consistency. Second, the research examined the hypothesized inference processes underlying knowledge complexity effects on attitude-intention consistency for higher-deliberation behavior (Fabrigar, Petty, Smith, & Crites, 2006). These studies used a department store paradigm, in which participants formed attitudes toward two fictional department stores, varying in favorability toward each store (within-subjects) and the complexity of knowledge presented to create the attitudes (between-subjects). Participants indicated which store they would choose when making a purchase involving a product for which they had not received information in the store descriptions. The experiments all also manipulated (between-subjects) participants’ ability to deliberate about their report of their behavioral intentions. A pilot study, as well as a series of four other studies, failed to find an effect of deliberation at the time of intention on the (enhancing) effect of knowledge complexity on attitude-intention consistency. These results suggested that knowledge complexity could have effects under both relatively low- and high-deliberation settings. Previous researchers had hypothesized that knowledge complexity would be associated with inferences that the attitude was more useful or applicable to the purchase decision, and that these inferences would mediate complexity effects under higher deliberation (Fabrigar et al., 2006). I suspected that such inferences would be responsible for knowledge complexity effects under high-deliberation settings but not under lower-deliberation settings. Although Experiment 1A provided evidence consistent with these effects, further analyses were inconsistent across three follow-up studies. Knowledge complexity was associated with higher rated inference of applicability in most, but not all experiments, and higher inferences of applicability, in turn, were significantly associated with higher attitude-intention consistency in Experiments 1A and 1B (but not Experiments 2A and 2B). The effect of deliberation in inference effects was unclear. Though Experiment 1A suggested inference had a greater effect under higher deliberation (in which it significantly mediated knowledge complexity effects), later experiments were less supportive. Future research is needed to clarify the role of inference assessments and deliberation at the time of behavior in determining the effects of knowledge complexity as well as other moderators of attitude-behavior consistency. More broadly, the present research suggests that there may be multiple roles for attitudes in influencing behavior (cf. Fabrigar, MacDonald, & Wegener, 2005). 2013-09-03 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373362516 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373362516 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Psychology Social Psychology Behavioral Sciences social psychology attitude-behavior consistency moderation attitude strength attitudes |
| spellingShingle |
Psychology Social Psychology Behavioral Sciences social psychology attitude-behavior consistency moderation attitude strength attitudes Gretton, Jeremy David Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| author |
Gretton, Jeremy David |
| author_facet |
Gretton, Jeremy David |
| author_sort |
Gretton, Jeremy David |
| title |
Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| title_short |
Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| title_full |
Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| title_fullStr |
Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Examining Inference Processes Underlying Knowledge Complexity Effects on Attitude-Behavior Consistency |
| title_sort |
examining inference processes underlying knowledge complexity effects on attitude-behavior consistency |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373362516 |
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AT grettonjeremydavid examininginferenceprocessesunderlyingknowledgecomplexityeffectsonattitudebehaviorconsistency |
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