Threats to generalization in the use of elicited, purloined, and contrived messages in human communication research

Abstract

This paper discusses threats to valid generalization in the study of messages, focusing upon problems of external validity. Three classes of messages are examined and the special threats associated with each are described. Additionally, general problems which cut across these classes are indicated. It is suggested that replication of research efforts is the best procedure for exploring the limits of message generalization and that the discovery of such limits can be theoretically fruitful.

Key concepts:

• Message effects
• generalization of results
• validity of inferences
• research design