THE ADDITION OF VALENCE AND NARRATIVE ENDINGS’ INFLUENCE ON THE RISK CONVERGENCE MODEL

Lookadoo, Kathryn

THE ADDITION OF VALENCE AND NARRATIVE ENDINGS’ INFLUENCE ON THE RISK CONVERGENCE MODEL

dc.contributor.advisor	Wong, Norman
dc.contributor.author	Lookadoo, Kathryn
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Bessarabova, Elena
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Cionea, Ioana
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Meirick, Patrick
dc.contributor.committeeMember	Cheney, Marshall
dc.date.accessioned	2017-07-25T16:35:09Z
dc.date.available	2017-07-25T16:35:09Z
dc.date.issued	2017-08-01
dc.date.manuscript	2017
dc.description.abstract	The risk convergence model (RCM) was developed as a theoretical framework to organize research on media effects and narrative persuasion (So & Nabi, 2013). The model identifies social distance to a fictional character as a key mechanism through which narrative engagement variables impact media users’ personal risk perceptions. However, the model has only been tested twice (So & Nabi, 2013; So & Shen, 2015). This dissertation expands the RCM by adding parasocial relationship (PSR) with the character to the model. Additionally, the study tests the effects of character valence and affective disposition on social distance with an at-risk character. This dissertation also explores the influence of narrative ending types on risk perceptions. Finally, the study examines the duration of effects for personal risk perceptions. An experiment was conducted in which participants (N = 272) were randomly assigned to a character valence condition (positive or negative) and a narrative ending condition (uncertain, denial, or apology). Results indicated that a reduction in social distance to an at-risk character led to risk convergence. The study supported the addition of PSR with the character to the RCM because social distance mediated the relationship between PSR and character- and self-risk discrepancy. Character valence did not work with the narrative engagement variables, whereas results for affective disposition indicated a future role it could play in the RCM. Finally, narrative ending types did not significantly affect risk perceptions. Overall, this study’s results offer support for the RCM and offer new components to consider when testing the model in the future.	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/11244/51839
dc.language	en_US	en_US
dc.subject	Communication	en_US
dc.subject	risk communication	en_US
dc.subject	narrative engagement	en_US
dc.thesis.degree	Ph.D.	en_US
dc.title	THE ADDITION OF VALENCE AND NARRATIVE ENDINGS’ INFLUENCE ON THE RISK CONVERGENCE MODEL	en_US
ou.group	College of Arts and Sciences::Department of Communication	en_US