An Examination of the Narrative Persuasion with Epilogue through the Lens of the Elaboration Likelihood Model

Abstract

This study synthesized components of the elaboration likelihood model with recent theorizing on persuasion through narrative. Specifically, it examines the relationship of perceived salience, transportation, and character identification with respect to narrative, argument, and combination (narrative +argument) messages. Two hundred fifty-five university students were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 conditions, read a blog about the institution of an exit exam policy at an unnamed university, and filled out an online questionnaire. As anticipated, salience was found to mediate the relationship between transportation and acceptance of the message when narrative messages were followed by epilogues. Participants in the narrative condition were more accepting of the message than participants in the argument condition.

Keywords:

• Character Identification
• Elaboration Likelihood Model
• Epilogues
• Narrative
• Transportation

Notes

*p < .05; **p < .01.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebekah Lane

Rebekah Lane (M.A., University of Central Florida, 2010) is an instructor in the Performing Arts Department at Full Sail University.

Ann Neville Miller

Ann Neville Miller (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2005), is an assistant professor in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida.

Christopher Brown

Christopher Brown (M.A., Carnegie Mellon, 2013) is an adjunct instructor in the Communication Department at Valencia State College.

Natalie Vilar

Natalie Vilar (B.A., University of Central Florida, 2011) is a public relations assistant at Orlando Fashion Week.