Modal versus individually-derived beliefs about condom use: Measuring the cognitive underpinnings of the theory of reasoned action

Abstract

Several measurement approaches for assessing the belief underpinnings of the theory of reasoned action (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980; Fishbein and Ajmn, 1975), a cognitive model used extensively to understand the determinants of health behaviors, were compared empirically. Specifically, beliefs about condom use were examined in order to determine (a) whether one's own beliefs or a set of modal beliefs are stronger predictors of global measures of attitude toward behavior, subjective norm. and behavioral intention, and (b) whether measures of the perceived importance, accessibility, or cumulative serial sums of individuallyderived behavioral and normative beliefs yield superior predictions of their respective global constructs, as well as behavioral intention, than do the standard modal belief measures. Results suggest that although individuallyderived beliefs are marginally stronger predictors than their modal counterparts, practical considerations may outweigh the modest gain in predictive accuracy.

Key Words:

• Behavioral and normative beliefs
• attitudes
• behavioral intentions
• theory of reasoned action
• measurement
• condom use