No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The "set," "reinforcement," and "sensory variation" hypotheses are reviewed in terms of their ability to predict the results of order effects in the persuasive situation where opposed arguments on the same topic are utilized. The set hypothesis is most successful when the communicative materials presented are unfamiliar to the S. The sensory variation hypothesis is most successful when the topics of the cummunications are concerned with familiar social issues. (24 ref.)

This study was performed with 128 college students acting as Ss. The primary hypothesis that Ss confronted with a hidden pretest in an opinion change study will yield a significant recency effect, and Ss confronted with an exposed pretest will yield a significant primacy effect, was rejected. A primacy effect is in evidence when the pretest is hidden, and no directional effects are present when the pretest is exposed. The secondary hypothesis that a group exposed to a highly controversial topic will yield a significant primacy effect, and a group exposed to a topic of medium controversy will yield a recency effect, or no effect at all, was also rejected.