Abstract
This study tested different attitude function theories, as well as hypotheses democratic theorists have developed regarding the bases of pro‐democratic attitudes. Two hundred and sixty‐six undergraduates explained why they believed in democracy, rating the aptness of 40 sentences operationalizing attitude functions, as well as the persuasiveness of six arguments framed in terms of these functions. Factor analysis suggested the existence of either four or six distinct attitude functions. Functional saliences were weakly predictive of persuasiveness ratings, and regression analyses revealed semipartial correlations between functions and age, estimated parents' income, and attitude strength. Implications were drawn for both functional theory and democratic theory and practice.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 423-440 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Social Psychology |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1992 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Social Psychology
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Why We Believe in Democracy : Testing Theories of Attitude Functions and Democracy. / Gastil, John.
In: Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 22, No. 6, 03.1992, p. 423-440.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Why We Believe in Democracy
T2 - Testing Theories of Attitude Functions and Democracy
AU - Gastil, John
PY - 1992/3
Y1 - 1992/3
N2 - This study tested different attitude function theories, as well as hypotheses democratic theorists have developed regarding the bases of pro‐democratic attitudes. Two hundred and sixty‐six undergraduates explained why they believed in democracy, rating the aptness of 40 sentences operationalizing attitude functions, as well as the persuasiveness of six arguments framed in terms of these functions. Factor analysis suggested the existence of either four or six distinct attitude functions. Functional saliences were weakly predictive of persuasiveness ratings, and regression analyses revealed semipartial correlations between functions and age, estimated parents' income, and attitude strength. Implications were drawn for both functional theory and democratic theory and practice.
AB - This study tested different attitude function theories, as well as hypotheses democratic theorists have developed regarding the bases of pro‐democratic attitudes. Two hundred and sixty‐six undergraduates explained why they believed in democracy, rating the aptness of 40 sentences operationalizing attitude functions, as well as the persuasiveness of six arguments framed in terms of these functions. Factor analysis suggested the existence of either four or six distinct attitude functions. Functional saliences were weakly predictive of persuasiveness ratings, and regression analyses revealed semipartial correlations between functions and age, estimated parents' income, and attitude strength. Implications were drawn for both functional theory and democratic theory and practice.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991160804&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84991160804&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1992.tb00983.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1992.tb00983.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84991160804
VL - 22
SP - 423
EP - 440
JO - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Social Psychology
SN - 0021-9029
IS - 6
ER -