This study examined which, if any, of the source characteristics--attractiveness, credibility, or power--had the most persuasive effect for female speakers in influencing changes in attitude. / Subjects (503) enrolled in communication courses at Florida State University listened to a female confederate made-up to look attractive and unattractive give a videotaped speech that advocated requiring a listening course as a part of graduation requirements. / Speeches of introduction were used to alternate high and low levels of credibility. Power was manipulated by giving the speaker the ability to grade an essay that the subjects believed they would have to write concerning her speech. After listening to the speech of introduction and the persuasive speech, subjects completed a posttest attitude measurement, an attractiveness scale, a credibility scale, and a power scale. / Results indicated a significant difference in attitude between the pretest and posttest scores in support of the required listening course. Subjects viewed the speaker differently on attractiveness, credibility, and power, but no significant differences were found for gender or for the different levels of the source characteristics. A possible explanation for this non-significant finding is that more extreme levels of attractiveness, credibility, and power may have been needed. A significant difference was found in the way females and males viewed the speaker on dynamism and power. Females viewed the female speaker as having more dynamism and power than did males. / The study suggests that female speakers should be aware of the differences that attractiveness, credibility, and power make when attempting to persuade mixed audiences. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: A, page: 0372. / Major Professor: Thomas R. King. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76857 |
| Contributors | McPeak, Judith L., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 199 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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