Can persuasion effectively impact our attitude towards social behaviours

social behaviours

persuasion

design types

attitudes

persuasion strategies

experimental design types
Is the process of completing research in a controlled way so that specific conclusions can be drawn in relation to a hypothesis statement. Variables are manipulated to see the outcome.


advantages
An experimental design provides the researcher with a high level of control, meaning less is to go wrong and the aim can be completed. Hence a conclusion is found that is specific to the research questions, and can additionally be used to create statistics from the data increasing the reliability and accuracy of the findings whilst cause and effect can be determined by using this design.


disadvantages
The results drawn are extremely subjective due to human error, as well as the environment of the experiment not being in realistic situations decreasing how applicable the findings are to real world situations.

abc model

qualitative design
Qualitative design is usually used to find an in depth understanding on the area of interest and is commonly used when little to no prior knowledge is known about the topic. There are two different groups within qualitative design, focus groups, and the delphi technique.


  1. focus groups provides the chance to find peoples attitudes and opinions towards the topic in the form of a interview or small group discussion. Questions are used to lead the interview or group discussion along the right route.
  2. the Delphi technique creates professional responses on a topic from a small group of experts in the area of interest. This technique commonly uses questionnaires to gather the information making it easier to gather responses from experts as they do not need to be together physically.

advantages
More rich and in depth data relevant to the topic can be gathered as well as learning new information when little to no information was known prior to the research.


disadvantages
A smal sample size will decrease the applicability to larger populations meaning results cannot be generalised. Additionally, bias from the participants or researcher can heavily impact the reliability and accuracy of the results.

observational design
An observational design is usually used to answer a research question that is based purely on what the researcher can observe, meaning there is no manipulation or change towards the research subjects and variables.


advantages
Observational design is the most straightforward way to obtain data that requires little to no technical expertise. This is because people observe a wide variety of things on a daily basis without realising, meaning no further practice or experience is needed as it is already learnt how to observe. An observational design also allows the investigation to be applied to larger populations, as well as real-life situations/environments. Hence, by using observation, the validity and reliability once drawing conclusions is heightened due to the questionable credibility of the source.


disavantages
Disavantages found in observational designs includes lack of understanding whilst observing the participants, as well as potentially having an unreliable frame of reference. Hence, important observations may be missed by the observer, therefore, decreasing the validity and accuracy of conclusions drawn. Being observed creates room for bias as the participant may change the way they act or go about a task due to the feeling of judgement or nervousness. With this bias, as well as observer bias, observational design becomes unreliable in certain aspects depending on the aim.

door in face method
The method of requesting something big for example $100 which is guaranteed to be rejected, and then requesting for something smaller such as $50 to make it seem like you are reasoning. After the standards were set high it is more likely for the person to agree due to the new request seeming smaller and insignificant.

norm of reciprocity
utilises the creation of guilt from the audience into a state of manipulation, creating the idea inside their head that they owe you something meaning they have to give in.

foot in the door
Foot in the door is the correlation to door in the face, where because someone said yes to a smaller request, they would also agree to a larger request.

yale communication approach

  1. the source uses a professional on the topic or area of interest to increase how credible the message is. This additionally uses primary and secondary sources. The source of Yale communication approach is used to attract attention to keep the audience engaged.
  2. the message is used to create an emotional response to the audience to increase the impact of the message. Joy, sadness, anger, regret, fear or empathy are common emotions resembled in these messages to create a connection between the audience and the message.
    How successful the persuasion is can only be told or shown through the audience. Data shows that people between the ages of 18 and 25 are easier to be influenced on their attitudes, behaviours and thoughts as older adults are more stable and reassuring with their decisions and mindsets.

elaboration likelihood model
Two major routes deliver a persuasive message to try and influence somebody. The variables used in the Yale communication approach can be considered when using the elaboration likelihood model.

  1. central route includes a direct message to the audience, hence, causing them to consider the idea more thoroughly. This approach utilises data and facts to more heavily impact the viewers and prove reliability, especially when talking about relevant and serious issues in todays society. A clear message is used about what is the main idea of the message.
  2. peripheral route depends on the audience's ability to a not so clear mesasge with what it really means. This route does not clearly state the message such as "stop drinking", instead, it creates the idea more subtly hoping that the audience will be able to find the real message. This route is commonly used for less important messages that aren't an issue to todays society.

experience - direct or indirect
Depending on how important the message is, direct and indirect messages can be used through the method of experience.

Social behaviour is the way in which one may act in specific environments and different situations, and hence, how their behaviour may have an impact to influence or change another persons behaviour.

verbal
A message within a message that could possibly have an impact on the other person.


behaviours that reflect verbalism

  • singing
  • shouting
  • laughing

non verbal
Gestures, body language or acts that may have an impact on the other persons attitude, behaviour or opinion.


behaviours that reflect non verbalism

  • hand gestures
  • drinking alcohol
  • dancing
  • smoking

affective
Refers to the emotional response an individual may have during a specific situation or towards an object or person. This judgement scale includes a positive response such as liking or loving something/someone, a negative response where you dislike or hate something/someone, and a neutral response where you do not have either a positive or negative response, more like a neutral, unbothered or lack of interest towards something/someone.


Additionally, it is easily possible to have mixed emotions towards something where different aspect of an object or person allows you to have mixed responses of positive and negavtive emotions as well as neutral feelings.


behavioural
Refers to the actions and/or behaviours an individual may respond to a certain situation, interaction, and/or environment with . For example, fistt bumping everybody I interact with as a way of greeting them.



cognitive
Refers to the beliefs, or thoughts an individual may have towards a object, person, situation, and/or idea. For example, I believe in god or that everything is meant to happen for a reason.

Persuasion is the act of consciously trying to change someone else's beliefs, behaviour, feelings or opinions towards a specific situation, person or object. This is widely used in politics, debates, marketing and advertisements to influence the way an individual may feel or act towards something.