Ruiter - Fear Arousal

Question 1

Method

Answer 1

Lab experiment - independent measures design

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

88 female first year undergraduates at uni in the Netherlands, mean age of 20yrs

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

Completed a questionnaire to assess pre-experimental attitude to breast self examination.

• Had to evaluate the effectiveness of several educational messages about breast cancer.
• Read a message about the threats of breast cancer.
• Then had a self report on fear arousal.
• read a persuasive message about performing monthly breast self examination checks, supported by arguments.

Questions administered to assess post experimental attitude

Fear manipulation was operationalised through diff levels of severity and susceptibility to the ps.

Random allocation to 2x2: low vs mild and week vs strong argument

Question 4

Results:

Answer 4

The main effect of manipulation fear was not significant. The main effect was from arguments strengths, suggesting that arguments based
Messages are more effective than fear

Participants who expressed low fear didn’t differ in attitudes towards self examination.

Question 5

Conclusions

Answer 5

Evoked fear motivates people into more arguments based processing. However, they accept the findings may only be applicable to breast self examination and not all health detection behaviours

Question 6

Aim

Answer 6

To examine the effect of fear arousal on attitude towards participation towards participation in early detection activities (breast self examination for cancer)