To Match or Mismatch ? That is Only One Important Question

This study examined the experiential attitude function—an attitude based on past experience(s)—and tested whether a message targeted at this function would elicit attitude change. Each of 139 undergraduates was assigned randomly to one of four conditions in which a fictitious Executive Committee for Academic Integrity (ECAI) report, written for a university president, supplied strong or weak arguments. Furthermore, these messages either argued that tenure should be abolished (anti-tenure) or that tenure should continue (pro-tenure). Results indicated that, although the functional target of the message was not related to posttest attitudes, conformity to message recommendations was contingent upon the discrepancy between the respondent’s initial attitude and the position advocated in the message. Interestingly, the mean attitude change in every experimental condition was negative, indicating that regardless of the position advocated in the message, respondents’ attitudes became increasingly antitenure.