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KP Dissertation 2018 (Final).pdf (1.34 MB)

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Influences of Attitudinal Ambivalence on Attitude Clarity

Patton, Kathleen Mary
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu153195133912666

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Properties of attitudes have been shown to influence attitudinal outcomes: the likelihood that the attitude will be persistent and stable over time, resistant to persuasion, influential on thoughts and judgments, and predictive of relevant behavior. The properties that make an attitude relatively strong or weak, however, have typically been studied in isolation, with less research examining how one attitude property might influence another. The current work adds to the literature in considering a causal link between two of these strength-related properties. Recent research has found that one property, attitude certainty, can be conceptualized as two distinct components: the extent to which individuals feel they know what their attitudes are (i.e., attitude clarity), and the extent to which individuals feel their attitudes are valid, right, and justified (i.e., attitude correctness). Although there are many known antecedents to a global certainty construct, less is known about antecedents to clarity and correctness. The current research provides evidence that attitudinal ambivalence, a strength-related property indicating evaluative conflict, has a unique predictive effect on attitude clarity. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that both structural and subjective ambivalence relates to clarity. Study 3 provides evidence that the subjective experience of ambivalence is more impactful on clarity than having structurally mixed positive and negative reactions. Studies 4 and 5 additionally confirm that the effect of ambivalence is independent of other known antecedents of clarity. Finally, analyses across studies provide evidence that (subjective) ambivalence has a greater influence on clarity than correctness.
Duane Wegener, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Richard Petty, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Curtis Haugtvedt, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
176 p.
Social Psychology
Attitude Properties, Attitude Strength, Ambivalence, Certainty, Clarity, Correctness

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Patton, K. M. (2018). Influences of Attitudinal Ambivalence on Attitude Clarity [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu153195133912666

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Patton, Kathleen. Influences of Attitudinal Ambivalence on Attitude Clarity. 2018. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu153195133912666.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Patton, Kathleen. "Influences of Attitudinal Ambivalence on Attitude Clarity." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu153195133912666

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu153195133912666
567
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.