Meta-analytic evidence for the persuasive effect of narratives on beliefs,attitudes, intentions,and behaviors |
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| Authors: | Kurt Braddock James Price Dillard |
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| Institution: | Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Although narratives are often credited with the capacity to change opinions, empirical tests of this prediction have produced mixed results. To provide a more precise test of narrative's effect on beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors, we performed meta-analyses on studies that evaluated narrative's persuasive influence on these outcomes. Results suggested positive relationships between exposure to a narrative and narrative-consistent beliefs (k?=?37; N?=?7,376; r?=?.17), attitudes (k?=?40; N?=?7,132; r?=?.19), intentions (k?=?28; N?=?5,211; r?=?.17), and behaviors (k?=?5; N?=?978; r?=?.23). Moderator analyses on the effect of fictionality yielded mixed results. Neither medium of presentation nor research design influenced the magnitude of the narrative-persuasion relationship. However, results suggested the presence of unidentified moderators. |
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| Keywords: | Narratives stories beliefs attitudes intentions behavior persuasion |
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