G543 - Fear Arousal - Ruiter Flashcards
What type of experiment was used?
Lab experiment
What was the aim?
To examine the effect of fear arousal on attitudes towards breast self-examination for cancer
What design was used?
Independent measure
How many participants were there and what was their occupation?
88 female first year graduates at a university in the Netherlands, mean age of 20
Why did participant firstly have to complete a questionnaire?
To assess pre-experimental attitude to breast self-examination
Put these in order:
- Self-report on fear arousal
- Read a message about the threat of breast cancer
- questionnaire administered to assess post experimental attitude towards breast self-examination
- Read a persuasive message about performing monthly self-examination checks, supported by weak or strong arguments
- Read a message about the threat of breast cancer
- Self-report on fear arousal
- Read a persuasive message about performing monthly self-examination checks, supported by weak or strong arguments
- questionnaire administered to assess post experimental attitude towards breast self-examination
How was fear manipulation operationalised?
Through different levels of implied severity and susceptibility of breast cancer to the participant
How was argument strength operationalised?
Through weak arguments e.g “perform it as it’s pleasurable” to strong arguments e.g “you can detect cancer at an earlier treatable stage”
How were participants allocated to the conditions?
Randomly allocated to 2x2 conditions. Low vs mild fear alongside weak vs strong argument.
What was the main effect from?
Argument strength, suggesting that argument based messages are stronger than fear
What did participants who expressed low fear do?
They did not differ
What did those who reported mild fear say?
They felt more positive towards breast self-examination after reading the strong argument
What did ruined conclude that evoked fear motivated people to do?
More argument based processing.
What two things had to be paired for the attitude towards breast examination to change?
Strong argument and high level of fear.
What did ruiter accept the findings may only be applicable to?
Breast self-examination and not all health detection behaviours
