Outcomes of observed other‐member's message responses on credibility and attractiveness of individual group members

Abstract

Observable audience response (OAR) is an intra‐audience effect that has produced different attitudes toward message topics and sources. Research has explored the effect of varying ratios and sequences of positive and negative responses in public speaking settings. This study explored the effects of positive and negative responses directed by one member of a discussion group to another on other group members. A confederate sender directed sequences of positive or negative feedback to a confederate receiver in groups of four. Two naive group members' assessments of the confederate receiver's attractiveness and credibility were measured as well as the group members' attitudes toward their group's interest, productivity, and similarity. Significant differences were obtained between treatments for members' attitudes toward their group. Support for the predicted sequence of treatment effects was mixed. Groups did not vary their ratings of credibility or attractiveness based on feedback produced by the confederate sender. The results of this study differ notably from those obtained in previous OAR studies.

Notes

Alexis S. Olds is an assistant professor in the Department of Speech Communication, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407. The author is grateful to Cal Hylton, Steven McDermott, and Lorraine Jackson for their help in the preparation of this manuscript.