Communication Studies 205-0
Theories of Persuasion
Spring 2021
COURSE INFORMATION
Professor: Daniel O’Keefe
individual Zoom/phone
meetings by arrangement
d-okeefe@northwestern.edu
www.soc.northwestern.edu/dokeefe
or www.dokeefe.net
Assistants: John Brooks
johnbrooks@u.northwestern.edu
individual meetings: by
arrangement
Kaitlyn Childs
kmchilds@u.northwestern.edu
individual meetings: by
arrangement
Course site: www.dokeefe.net/205S21.html
or via www.soc.northwestern.edu/dokeefe
Text (supplementary):
D. O’Keefe, Persuasion: Theory and
research (3rd ed., paperback, Sage) (ISBN 978-1-4522-7667-0) (available at
the Library Reserve Room)
Brief course description and
tentative outline: This course
provides a general introduction to the social-scientific study of persuasive
communication. The course focuses on alternative theoretical accounts of the
processes underlying persuasion and on research findings concerning the effects
of various factors on persuasive effectiveness.
I. Introduction
II.
Theoretical approaches
A. Social judgment theory
B. Belief-based models
C. Functional approaches
D. Reasoned action theory
E. Elaboration likelihood model
F. Consistency theories
III.
Factors influencing persuasive effectiveness
A. Source factors
B. Message factors
C. Receiver factors
Course format: This course has a
lecture-and-discussion-section format, with two lectures and one
discussion-section meeting each week. Exams are based on material presented in
lecture. Lectures are recorded and uploaded in Zoom; the day-by-day schedule
page at the course website will provide links to lectures (www.dokeefe.net/205daybydayS21.html).
Discussion
sections provide an opportunity to review, ask questions about, or otherwise
engage with, material in the preceding lectures. Discussion-section meetings
take the form of synchronous Zoom meetings in the regularly scheduled time
periods (Fridays, at 12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT); your TA will send
you information about how to log in.
There
is no required reading. The text is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the
lectures. Exam questions assume you have not even looked at the supplemental
reading. In case you do want to read the supplementary text, the latter part of
this document indicates what parts of the text correspond to the material being
covered each week.
After
each lecture, a study guide will be posted online at the course website. The
study-guide questions are not exam/quiz questions; they are the kinds of
questions a tutor might ask in a one-on-one encounter in order to lead you
through the material.
The
primary purpose of the study guides is to get you ready for the exams. There’s
nothing in the exams that isn’t on the study guides. If you have mastered the
study guide, there will be no surprises in the exams.
Recommendation:
Before each week’s discussion-section meeting, do the study guides for that
week’s lectures. If you realize you have questions or uncertainties about some
aspect of the material, then you’ll know what to ask about in that week’s
discussion section.
Remote access support:
Northwestern is committed to ensuring students remain connected to courses and
learning resources while participating remotely. The Keep Learning
webpage provides you with access to information to ensure you are prepared
for—and can excel at—studies and participation in courses via Canvas, Zoom,
and other online tools. University resources such as academic advising, career services,
Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Health Service, are available
remotely. More information is here.
Course grading: One’s course grade is based on two hourly examinations and a final examination. The hourly exams are open-note multiple-choice exams; the first counts for 35% of the course grade, the second for 30%. The final exam is a take-home essay exam; the final exam counts for 35% of the course grade.
More exam information (e.g., results): http://www.dokeefe.net/205examsS21.html
One’s course grade will be determined by the weighted average of the grades on the individual assignments. Each assignment will receive a letter grade, with the usual numerical equivalents (that is, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so forth).
So, for example, a student who received a B on the first exam, an A- on the second exam, and an A on the final exam would have a course average of 3.56.
(3.0 x .35) + (3.7 x .30) + (4.0 x .35) = 3.56
To convert the course average into a course grade, the following scale will apply:
course average course grade
3.850 and up A
3.500 and up A-
3.150 and up B+
2.850 and up B
2.500 and up B-
2.150 and up C+
1.850 and up C
1.350 and up C-
0.500 and up D
below 0.500 F
So a student with a course average of 3.56 would earn a course grade of A-.
However, before course grades are submitted, the raw scores on the hourly exams are reviewed. If the circumstance is such that having answered correctly just one additional question on just one hourly exam would have yielded a higher course grade, then the higher course grade is given.
Academic dishonesty: Don't do
it. (If uncertain about what constitutes a violation of Northwestern
University's standards of academic integrity, consult the University web
site: https://www.northwestern.edu/provost/policies/academic-integrity/.)
Bad
things will happen if you do. (These can include a failing grade on the
assignment—and worse. For details on School of Communication procedures: http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/files/ProceduresAllegedAcademicDishonesty.pdf
.)
Discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual
misconduct: Don’t do these things, and don’t accept them
being done.
Northwestern University is committed to fostering an
environment where students are safe and free from sexual misconduct. Confidential resources are available to those who have
experienced sexual misconduct. Faculty, instructors, and TAs are not
confidential resources and are required to report incidents of sexual
misconduct, whether discussed in your assignments or in person, to the Office
of Equity, which can provide information about resources and options. I
encourage students who have experienced sexual misconduct to talk with someone
to get support. For more information, including how to request supportive
measures or file a report, see the Get Help page.
Northwestern University's policies on
discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct apply to all members of the
University community, including students, staff, faculty, and third parties.
Any student, staff, or faculty member, or third party, who believes that they
have been discriminated against or harassed on the basis of their race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender
expression, pregnancy, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship,
veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, or
any other classification protected by law, should contact the Office of Equity
at (847) 467-6165. Additional information about the
University's discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct policies,
including the campus resources available to assist individuals with concerns,
is available online on the Office of Equity website.
Students, staff, and faculty who report harassment,
discrimination, or sexual misconduct are also protected under the University's Policy on Non-Retaliation
Recording or downloading class sessions: Don’t do it.
Unauthorized
student recording of classroom or other academic activities (including advising
sessions or office hours) is prohibited. Unauthorized recording is unethical
and may also be a violation of University policy and state law. Students
requesting the use of assistive technology as an accommodation should make
contact with AccessibleNU. Unauthorized use of classroom
recordings—including distributing or posting them—is also prohibited. Under the
University’s Copyright Policy, faculty own the copyright to
instructional materials—including those resources created specifically for the
purposes of instruction, such as syllabi, lectures and lecture notes, and
presentations. Students cannot copy, reproduce, display or distribute
these materials. Students who engage in unauthorized recording, unauthorized
use of a recording, or unauthorized distribution of instructional materials
will be referred to the appropriate University office for follow-up.
Accommodations for disabilities:
Northwestern University is committed to providing the most accessible
learning environment as possible for students with disabilities. Should you
anticipate or experience disability-related barriers in the academic setting,
please contact AccessibleNU to move forward with the university’s established
accommodation process (e: accessiblenu@northwestern.edu; p: 847-467-5530). If
you already have established accommodations with AccessibleNU, please let me
know as soon as possible, preferably within the first two weeks of the term, so
we can work together to implement your disability accommodations. Disability
information, including academic accommodations, is confidential under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. For details: http://www.northwestern.edu/accessiblenu/
COVID-19
testing: To ensure
the health of our community, Northwestern University currently requires
students who come to campus or interact with the campus community in person
regularly to be tested for COVID-19 routinely. Students must keep the Community
Interaction Survey in CAESAR up-to-date, which is the method by which students
communicate such plans to the University. Community Interaction Survey status,
enrollment in classes with face to face meetings, and/or living in an on-campus
residence dictate the frequency with which students must be tested. Students
who fail to comply with COVID-19 testing or misrepresent their status in the
Community Interaction Survey may face summary disciplinary action, including
being restricted from campus or suspended.
Some tentative dates of interest:
Hourly exam #1 (online): from 9:00am CT Wednesday 28 April (available for 24
hours)
Hourly
exam #2 (online): from 9:00am CT Wednesday 2 June (available for 24 hours)
Take-home
final available online: Wednesday 2 June
not later than noon CT
Take-home
final due: Tuesday 8 June not later than noon CT
Tentative schedule: For an
updated day-by-day schedule with links to (inter alia) online lectures: www.dokeefe.net/205daybydayS21.html
Week
of 29 March
Tu 3/30: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: course
introduction (no content)
W 3/31: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: concept of
persuasion, attitude measurement, assessing persuasion
supplementary reading:
pp. 1-18
F 4/2: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 5 April
M 4/5: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: social judgment
theory (1 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 19-34
W 4/7: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: social judgment
theory (2 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 19-34
F 4/9: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 12 April
M 4/12: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: belief-based
approaches
supplementary reading:
pp. 56-75
W 4/14: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: functional approaches
supplementary reading:
pp. 35-55
F 4/16: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 19 April
M 4/19: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: reasoned action
theory (1 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 98-131
W 4/21: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: reasoned action
theory (2 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 98-131
F 4/23: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 26 April
M 4/26: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: elaboration
likelihood model
supplementary reading:
pp. 148-175
W 4/28: hourly exam #1 given online (available for 24hr at 9:00am CT)
F 4/30: discussion sections do not
meet
Week
of 3 May
M 5/3: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: consistency
theories: balance
W 5/5: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: consistency
theories: cognitive dissonance (1 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 76-97
F 5/7: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 10 May
M 5/10: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: consistency
theories: cognitive dissonance (2 of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 76-97
W 5/12: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: source factors (1
of 2)
supplementary reading:
pp. 188-213
F 5/14: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 17 May
M 5/17: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: source factors (2
of 2), message factors (1 of 3)
supplementary reading:
pp. 188-213 (source), 214-251 (message)
W 5/19: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: message factors
(2 of 3)
supplementary reading:
pp. 214-251
F 5/21: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 24 May
M 5/24: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: message factors
(3 of 3)
supplementary reading:
pp. 214-251
W 5/26: lecture available online by
10am CT
topic: receiver factors
supplementary reading:
pp. 252-267
F 5/28: online discussion sections
12:00-12:50pm CT and 1:00-1:50pm CT
Week
of 31 May
M 5/31: Memorial Day (no classes).
W 6/2: hourly exam #2 given online (available for 24hr at 9:00am CT)
W 6/2: take-home essay final posted online by noon (12:00pm) CT
F 6/4: discussion sections do not
meet
Week
of 7 June
Tu 6/8: final exam due (online submission) by noon (12:00pm) CT