Deck 15: Foundations of Persuasive Speaking

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of persuasion as defined in the text?

A) A professor explaining the theory of evolution to a college class
B) A police officer ordering a suspect to place his hands behind his head
C) A parent telling a daughter what time to be home from a date
D) A political candidate speaking to the party faithful, telling them what they want to hear about the evils of the opposition candidate

Answer 1

D

Question 2

If your anchor position is "Producing energy-efficient cars is one critical way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil," then according to the Social Judgment Theory

A) "buying giant RVs (recreational vehicles) the size of a bus should be encouraged" would fall within your latitude of rejection
B) "building and selling more hybrid cars should be encouraged by federal incentive programs" would fall within your latitude of neutrality
C) "increasing federal mileage standards to 50 miles per gallon by 2020" would fall within the latitude of acceptance
D) a and c

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The essential difference between persuasion and coercion is

A) the perception of free choice is persuasion
B) the use of threats and intimidation is persuasion
C) the use of strong logic is coercive
D) all of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

When attitudes are shaped indirectly by media images or what friends and others tell you, this is called

A) first-hand attitudes
B) second-level attitudes
C) second-hand attitudes
D) none of the above

Question 5

"Second-hand attitudes" are attitudes that are

A) derived directly from our personal experience
B) formed from media images or what friends have told us
C) extremely difficult to change with persuasion
D) strong predictors of behavior

Question 6

Binge drinking by college students is probably the result in most cases of

A) depression
B) social pressure to belong
C) pressure from mass media advertising
D) all of the above

Question 7

Social judgment theory strongly suggests that conversion is

A) a desirable goal
B) likely to occur if strong effort is made
C) unlikely to occur, especially from a single speech
D) all of the above

Question 8

Experiencing a significant emotional event is the likeliest way conversion might occur.

Question 9

There are three principal goals for persuasion: conversion to wholly new attitudes and behavior, modification of attitudes and behavior, and maintenance of current attitudes and behavior.

Question 10

According to social judgment theory, the further away someone's position is from the
anchor attitude, the less likely persuasive attempts will be successful.

Question 11

Ego involvement refers to the degree to which an issue is relevant or important to a person.

Question 12

According to the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion, the degree to which a receiver emphasizes the central or peripheral route depends primarily on the listener's motivation and ability to think about and carefully assess the quality of a persuasive message.

Question 13

Central processing of persuasive messages should be encouraged because it is what skeptics do when they are presented with a persuasive message.

Question 14

The elaboration likelihood model helps explain why conversion is so difficult for a speaker to attain.

Question 15

Persuasion always results in attitude and/or behavior change.

Question 16

If you change the attitudes of audience members, behavior change will
surely follow.

Question 17

Asking your college classmates to gather signatures on a petition for several hours on campus is very likely to result in many volunteers.

Question 18

A significant emotional event contrary to an existing attitude will almost certainly produce attitude and behavior change.

Question 19

A verbal pledge that outwardly commits individuals and groups to act in specific ways is a very powerful persuasive strategy.