The effects of language complexity in a counterattitudinal appeal to laypeople : an application of the elaboration likelihood model of persuasion to a legal issue

The effects of a complexly worded counterattitudinal appeal on laypeople's attitudes toward a legal issue were examined, using the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasion as a theoretical framework. This model states that persuasion can result from the elaboration and scrutiny of the message arguments (i.e., central route processing), or can result from less cognitively effortful strategies, such as relying on source characteristics as a cue to message validity (i.e., peripheral route processing). One hundred and sixty-seven undergraduates (85 men and 81 women) listened to eitller a low status or high status source deliver a counterattitudinal speech on a legal issue. The speech was designed to contain strong or weak arguments. These arguments were 'worded in a simple and, therefore, easy to comprehend manner, or in a complex and, therefore, difficult to comprehend manner. Thus, there were three experimental manipulations: argument comprehensibility (easy to comprehend vs. difficult to comprehend), argumel11 strength (weak vs. strong), and source status (low vs. high). After listening to tIle speec.J] participants completed a measure 'of their attitude toward the legal issue, a thought listil1g task, an argument recall task,manipulation checks, measures of motivation to process the message, and measures of mood. As a result of the failure of the argument strength manipulation, only the effects of the comprehel1sibility and source status manipulations were tested. There was, however, some evidence of more central route processing in the easy comprehension condition than in the difficult comprehension condition, as predicted. Significant correlations were found between attitude and favourable and unfavourable thoughts about the legal issue with easy to comprehend arguments; whereas, there was a correlation only between attitude and favourable thoughts 11 toward the issue with difficult to comprehend arguments, suggesting, perhaps, that central route processing, \vhich involves argument scrutiny and elaboration, occurred under conditions of easy comprehension to a greater extent than under conditions of difficult comprehension. The results also revealed, among other findings, several significant effects of gender. Men had more favourable attitudes toward the legal issue than did women, men recalled more arguments from the speech than did women, men were less frustrated while listening to the speech than were ,vomen, and men put more effort into thinking about the message arguments than did women. When the arguments were difficult to comprehend, men had more favourable thoughts and fewer unfavourable thoughts about the legal issue than did women. Men and women may have had different affective responses to the issue of plea bargaining (with women responding more negatively than men), especially in light of a local and controversial plea bargain that occurred around the time of this study. Such pre-existing gender differences may have led to tIle lower frustration, the greater effort, the greater recall, and more positive attitudes for men than for WOlnen. Results· from this study suggest that current cognitive models of persuasion may not be very applicable to controversial issues which elicit strong emotional responses. Finally, these data indicate that affective responses, the controversial and emotional nature ofthe issue, gender and other individual differences are important considerations when experts are attempting to persuade laypeople toward a counterattitudinal position.

Niagara South estate and legal documents collection, 1752-1937, n.d. [non-inclusive]

The documents in the collection include the names of families residing in Stamford Township, Welland County, which today is considered Niagara Falls. Some names are: Allan, Barnett, Brokenshaw, Buchanan, Cadham, Clark, Dalton, Dell, Fell, Garner, Hemmings, Kent, Lightbody, Orchard, Perry, Pew, Ross, Street, Thompson, Willox, Willson, Wright. For a more complete list of names consult the finding aid.

Legal document involving John D M’Kay, Thomas Butler, and John Harris, February 5, 1828

Richard Leonard was a member of the 104th Regiment of the British Army. He fought during the War of 1812 at Sackett’s Harbour, Lundy’s Lane and Fort Erie. After the war he settled at Lundy’s Lane and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 1st Lincoln Militia. He later became the Sheriff of Niagara. He died in 1833 and is buried in the Drummond Hill Cemetery.

[Las guarderías en México y su marco legal]

Tesis ( Maestría en Derecho Laboral) U.A.N.L.

Factores de riesgo en la adquisición de una sociedad anónima : su regulación legal [por] Alberto Palomino Garza

Tesis (Maestría en Derecho Mercantil) U.A.N.L.

La asistencia legal al testigo y su situación procesal en la averiguación previa (Análisis del artículo 127 Bis del Código Federal de Procedimientos Penales)

Tesis ( Maestría en Ciencias Penales) U.A.N.L.

La subrogación personal activa legal, única forma de transmisión no contemplada en la regla aplicable a la cesión y descuento de cartera bancaria.

Tesis (Maestría en Derecho Mercantil) U.A.N.L.

Contribución al conocimiento de las especies en estautos de conservación legal de Tamaulipas y Nuevo León, México

Tesis ( Maestría en Ciencias Forestales ) U.A.N.L.

Informe crítico-legal, dado al muy Ilustre y Venerable Cabildo de la Santa Iglesia Metropolitana de México...

UANL

Defensa legal que el ciudadano Coronel Cirilo Gómez y Anaya hizo por el Exmo. Señor General de División D. Pedro Celestino Negrete en el Consejo de Guerra que conoció en la causa que se le formó sobre el atribuírle el crimen infidencia.

UANL

Tratado de mediana y cirugía legal : teoria y practica

UANL

Brook farm : its members, scholars, and visitors

UANL

Ley constitucional sobre indultos, remisión y conmutación de pena legal.

UANL

Defensa legal de D. Antonio de la Campa, vecino que fué de esta ciudad en los autos pendientes en esta real audiencia con el albacea de María Luciana Villavicencio y de don Joaquín Zuazueta, marido de Ana Joaquina sobre nulidad de la disposición testamentaría en que aplicó su caudal á obras piadosas

UANL

Discurso que pronuncio el diputado Rafael Martínez de la Torre en la sesión día 3 de diciembre de 1874 sosteniendo la existencia legal de las Hermanas de la Caridad conforme a la instituciones de la República y leyes de reforma.

UANL