We expect that directing novices attention to structural relations in the base will facilitate their recognition of base relations. These relations then can be mapped to the target, and the novice can learn about the target from the analogy. However, as predicted for experts, novices processing of an analogy will likely depend not only on enhancing their ability to comprehend structural relations, but also on the presence of substantial resources to do so. Novices are more likely to comprehend and to be persuaded by an analogy when they are given instructions to focus on the structural relations among attributes and allocate substantial resources to the processing task than when either of these conditions is absent. Another approach is to induce novices to be in a positive mood when they perform the mapping task.
Numerous findings suggest that a positive mood fosters such processing.
Novices are more likely to comprehend and to be persuaded by an analogy when they are in a positive mood and when they allocate substantial resources to the processing task than when either of these conditions is absent. Testing effects of analogies Our research is based on the notion that the processing and persuasive impact of an analogy depends on two factors. One is the individual s ability to map abstract relations between a base and a target. Variations in expertise, instructions and mood may moderate this ability. The other factor is the availability of the resources required for the processing task.