Studies the effects of evidence in persuasive communication and suggests that the nature of the communication topic may be significantly related to evidence effectiveness and the attitude change process. (MH)

Drawn from a 1978 Speech Communication Association seminar, this collection of papers and other materials explores the subject of argumentation as epistemology. The first paper reviews several critiques of traditional argumentation theories and offers directions for new theories, and the remaining eight papers offer responses to the ideas and…

Examines how any utterance or activity can be opposed in order to better understand the origins of children's disputes. Shows that children analyze others' moves not only verbally but nonverbally as well. Thus, bodily action and presupposition are necessary components in the analysis of how arguments are started. (SED)

Paper presents a model of the processes involved in listener response to deductive arguments. (Editor)

Focuses on three issues which are hypothesized as affecting the negotiation of an agreement in a mixed-motive conflict: congruency of verbal and nonverbal messages, relative impact of verbal and nonverbal messages, and expression of cooperative or competitive intentions. (MH)

Reviews the central principles of conversational organization and characterizes conversational argument in terms of these general principles. Discusses enthymemes and why they are the substance of persuasion. (JMF)

Two experiments were conducted to test predictions made for attitude change interactions between the source-message orientation of recipients of a persuasive communication and various components of interpersonal and mass media communication situations. In Study 1, it was predicted that the presence of the source or the anticipation of discussing…

Discusses a study designed to investigate the relationships between vocal activity level and interpersonal attraction, perceived credibility, perceived homophily or interpersonal similarity and perceived power or ability to influence. (MH)

The author suggests that we are moving into an era where skills in persuasion are considered prerequisite to other management skills and discusses the emphasis on interpersonal communication as a continuing process that serves the purpose of making known and available to an industrial group the resources of individual human beings. He cites the…

Confrontation, or aggressive verbal behavior, has been defended as a rhetorical tactic by some communication theorists on five bases: biological, psychological, sociological, rhetorical, and intellectual. Proponents of "rhetorical sensitivity," however, differ from those who would accept confrontation uncritically. Confrontation is not…

This study was undertaken to determine which verbal behaviors teachers value, where they acquired their verbal behaviors, and how they justify them. (JD)

An attempt to synthesize primarily experimental studies of the process of social influence is presented. The point is made that each of us is involved in the process of social influence, both because we often attempt to influence someone else, and because we are constantly targets for attempts at social influence. This book is divided into four…

Initial credibility, use and non-use of evidence, and language intensity manipulate belief formation and change. Evidence supports the hypothesis that if a group of subject is exposed to a communicator who carries impressive credentials, uses specific data, and phrases a message in intense, fear-producing terms, the subjects will respond with…