Argument
Quantity
Subjects
exposed to a greater number of arguments should produce more
favorable cognitive responses than subjects exposed to fewer
arguments.
Calder,
Insko, and Yandell (1974) found that number
of arguments influences cognitive responses. Furthermore,
numerous studies have reported that messages with more
arguments create more attitude change than those with fewer
arguments (Calder,
Insko, & Yandell, 1974;
Chaiken,
1980;
Petty & Cacioppo, 1984). Argument quantity, unlike
argument quality or strength, is believed to be a peripheral
cue. When receivers notice that a message has a large number
of arguments, they have some tendency to accept the message.
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