Abstract
This study explored the effectiveness of three different persuasive message strategies designed for the purposes of this study – emotional appeal, fear appeal, and informational appeal – as used in a health campaign. This health campaign’s focus was on the general public’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Using experimental and survey methodologies, the researcher quantitatively analyzed data collected from 103 participants from a small liberal arts college in Ohio. General knowledge of celiac disease and the gluten-free diet was affected by the emotional appeal, whereas more specific knowledge was affected by the fear appeal. Furthermore, some interactions were found between message type and participants’ previous knowledge about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. These findings were supported utilizing theories such as Protection Motivation Theory, the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Health Belief Model, the Extended Parallel Process Model, and the Elaboration Likelihood Model.
Advisor
Johnson, Michelle
Department
Communication Studies
Recommended Citation
Rieger, Rachel K., "Yaking About Celiac: An Experimental Analysis of the Effectiveness of Persuasive Message Strategies Used in a Public Health Campaign about Celiac Disease" (2014). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 5915.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/5915
Disciplines
Health Communication
Keywords
gluten-free, celiac, persuasive message strategies, protection motivation theory, health belief model, elaboration likelihood model, extended parallel process model, theory of reasoned action, health campaign
Publication Date
2014
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2014 Rachel K. Rieger