Cognitive structure as a predictor of post speech attitude and attitude change

1 March 1972

journal article
other
Published by Taylor & Francis in Speech Monographs

Vol. 39 (1) , 55-61
https://doi.org/10.1080/03637757209375738

Abstract

This study investigates Cronkhite's hypotheses for predicting post speech attitude and attitude change. Eight motivational concepts or consequences of a proposed change in policy were determined. An individual's perceptions of the consequences were operationally defined as his cognitive structure for the proposal. As a pretest, subjects indicated their attitudes toward the consequences, their beliefs that the consequences are related instrumentally to the proposal, and their attitudes toward the proposal. At a later date the subjects listened to a counterattitudinal speech on the proposal. A post‐test repeated the pretest measures. In support of Cronkhite's hypotheses, it was observed that cognitive structure predicts post speech attitude, and change in cognitive structure predicts attitude change.

Keywords

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:

An Investigation of the Relationships between Beliefs about an Object and the Attitude toward that Object
Human Relations, 1963
The AB Scales
Human Relations, 1962
Cognitive consistency and attitude change.
The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1960