Powers, R.D. (author / University of Wisconsin, Department of Agricultural Journalism) and University of Wisconsin, Department of Agricultural Journalism
Format:
Manual
Publication Date:
1966
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 27 Document Number: B02762
Notes:
Madison, WI : University of Wisconsin, College of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Journalism, 1966. 53 p. (Bulletin 35)
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 156 Document Number: C25342
Notes:
From Vocal Point column via Food Safety Network. 3 pages., Author challenges accuracy of widely-accepted government statistics claiming that Americans spend under 10 percent of their disposable income on food.
20 pages., Via online journal., Agricultural technology continues to evolve to meet the demands of a growing world, but previous advancements in agricultural technology have been met with resistance. Improved science communication efforts can assist in bridging the gap between expert and lay opinion to improve reception of scientific information. Using the framework of the heuristic model of persuasion, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of emphasizing elements of source credibility – trustworthiness and expertise – and the gender of the source on perceptions of source credibility. A sample of 122 undergraduate students were exposed to one of the four possible developed message treatments. Data collection took place in a laboratory setting using an online instrument that had a randomly-assigned stimulus research design. The results indicated the treatment conditions had higher mean scores for source credibility than the control. Further inferential analysis, however, showed the differences to be non-significant. One significant finding showed the gender of the source can influence perceptions of credibility. This suggests merit in using female sources when presenting scientific information to the Millennial population. While choosing credible sources to present information is important, more research is needed regarding the effect of emphasizing various credibility components and the role of source gender on perceptions of source credibility.
