INTERACTION OF TYPE OF PERSUASIVE MESSAGE (TRADITIONAL VS. FISHBEIN AND AJZEN) AND THE METHOD OF COGNITIVE ELABORATION ON BEHAVIORAL INTENTION, ATTITUDE AND SUBJECTIVE NORM RELATED TO CARING FOR QUADRIPLEGIC PATIENTS.
Contributors: University of Texas at Austin.
Published: 1990
Number of pages: 217
Subjects: Education, Sciences.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study examined the interaction of type of persuasive message and method of cognitive elaboration on the attitudes of nursing students toward caring for quadriplegics. The research is based on Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). The hypotheses examined the differential treatment effects on immediate posttest and four week retention test behavioral intention, attitude and subjective norm.

This quasi-experimental study used a 3x2x2 factorial, pretest/posttest design incorporating random assignment to treatment groups. The Quadriplegic Questionnaire (QQ) was designed using the TRA and was used for measurement at the time of pretest, posttest, and retention test. Dependent variables were the behavioral intention, attitude toward the behavior and subjective norm as measured on the QQ. Independent variables were type of message and method of cognitive elaboration. Persuasive messages were developed using either TRA or a review of the literature. Cognitive elaboration consisted of either recalling the message arguments or listing thoughts about the message. Students were randomly divided into four groups.

The sample (N = 68) consisted of baccalaureate nursing students in their final two years of training. Students had not taken courses in rehabilitation or diseases of the nervous system. The sample was drawn from three schools of nursing in Texas. Participation was voluntary. Pooled data were used since no significant differences among the schools existed at pretest. Correlational data from the pretest indicated that the model functioned as anticipated.

ANCOVA was used to test the effect of the intervention on dependent variables at posttest time with pretest scores as the covariate. The second hypothesis was tested using an ANOVA on the mean scores adjusted for the effect of pretesting. Testing of the hypotheses indicated that there were no significant treatment effects immediately following the intervention or four weeks later.

Although no significant differences were noted between treatments, significant positive effects on intention (F = 11.91, p =.0001) and attitude (F = 5.98, p =.0033) occurred when all data were examined for significant changes from pretest through retention test. Data indicated that the greatest change was from pretest to posttest.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-06, Section: A, page: 1975.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, 1990.

School code: 0227.