Reasoned action theory (1 of 2)

1. (a) According to reasoned action theory (RAT), what is the best single predictor of voluntary behavior? (b) What are the four primary determinants of behavioral intention?

2. What is the attitude toward the behavior (AB)? Explain the difference between attitude-toward-the-behavior and attitude-toward-the-object. Describe the sorts of questionnaire items commonly used for assessing the AB.

3. What is the injunctive norm (IN)? Describe the sorts of questionnaire items commonly used for assessing the IN. What is the descriptive norm (DN)? Describe the sorts of questionnaire items commonly used for assessing the DN. Explain the difference between the injunctive norm and the descriptive norm.

4. What is perceived behavioral control (PBC)? Describe the sorts of questionnaire items commonly used for assessing PBC. How is PBC different from the other three components?

5. (a) Do these components influence intention equally? How are the relative weights of the components assessed? (b) What does the research evidence suggest about the predictability of intention from the four components?

6. Explain how RAT can be useful in identifying foci for persuasive efforts. If persuasion is attempted by changing one of the components, does that component need to be significantly weighted? Explain.

7. (a) What are the determinants of the AB? What is belief strength (and how is it assessed)? What is belief evaluation (and how is it assessed)? Explain how these combine to yield the AB. What does the research evidence suggest about the predictability of the AB from its determinants? (b) Identify alternative means by which the AB might be influenced. Explain (and give examples of) changing the strength or evaluation of existing salient beliefs. Explain (and give examples of) reconfiguring the set of salient beliefs (and identify two ways in which such reconfiguration might be accomplished).

8. (a) What are the determinants of the IN? What are normative beliefs (and how are they assessed)? What is motivation-to-comply (and how is it assessed)? Explain how these combine to yield the IN. What does the research evidence suggest about the predictability of the IN from its determinants? (b) Identify alternative means by which the IN might be influenced. Explain (and give examples of) changing the normative belief or motivation-to-comply that is associated with an existing salient referent. Explain (and give examples of) reconfiguring the set of salient referents (and identify two ways in which such reconfiguration might be accomplished).