Fear Arousal - Ruiter Flashcards
What was the method?
Lab experiment with an independent measures design
What was the aim of the Ruiter study?
To examine the effect of fear arousal on attitude towards participation in early detection activities (breast self-examination for cancer)
Who were the participants in the Ruiter study?
88 female, first year undergraduates at a university in the Netherlands with a mean age of 20
What did participants have to do to assess pre-experimental attitudes to breast self-examination ?
Complete a questionnaire
Participants had to evaluate the effectiveness of several educational messages about breast cancer. How was effectiveness operationalised?
Fear arousal
In order to produce a low/mild manipulation of fear, what were participants asked to do?
Read a message about the threat of breast cancer
What were participants asked to do after each manipulation of fear?
Self-report their level of fear arousal
Next, participants had to read a persuasive message about performing monthly breast self-examination. How was this message supported?
With weak or strong arguments
How were post-experimental attitudes towards breast self-examination assessed?
Using a questionnaire
How was fear manipulation operationalised?
Through different levels of implied severity of breast cancer and susceptibility to the participant
How was argument strength operationalised?
Through weak and strong arguments
Give an example of a weak argument
“Perform it as its pleasurable”
Give an example of a strong argument
“You can detect cancer at an earlier, treatable stage@
There was a random allocation to the 2x2 conditions. What were these conditions?
Low vs mild fear and weak vs strong argument
What was the effect of manipulated fear?
There was very little effect
