Abstract or Concrete? Language Strategies of Debunking Experts in Health-related Topics and Audience Attitude Change

XIE Peng; DUAN Jia; MU Wenlong; CAO Qinwei

PDF(1762 KB)

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2024, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6) : 110-132.

Research Articles

Abstract or Concrete? Language Strategies of Debunking Experts in Health-related Topics and Audience Attitude Change

Author information +

History +

Abstract

This study explores the impact of debunking expert’s debunking language attributes on audience attitude change in health-related issues. Specifically, this study hypothesizes that compared to using abstract language strategies, the use of concrete language strategies by debunking experts in communicating with rumor recipients can more significantly lead to attitude change. At the same time, the language typicality and perceived expertise mediate the effect of language strategies. In addition, this relationship is moderated by the debunking expert's level of professional capital and the psychological distance of the audience. This study suggests that when debunking experts have a higher level of professional capital, the effect of their concrete language strategies on audience attitude change is weakened. When the audience perceives a closer psychological distance to the target of the rumor, the effect of debunking experts’ concrete language strategies on audience attitude change is more pronounced. Through three experiments, the hypotheses of this study are confirmed. This study provides important insights for debunking communication in the health field and offers suggestions and implications for rumor management in health issues.

Key words

;Language strategy / audience attitude change / debunking / health-related topics

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

XIE Peng , DUAN Jia , MU Wenlong , et al. Abstract or Concrete? Language Strategies of Debunking Experts in Health-related Topics and Audience Attitude Change[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2024, 46(6): 110-132

References

List( Publishing order | Descend order by publishing year | Descend order by cited within ) Chart analysis

[1]	陈瑞, 李小玲, 林升栋 (2016). 反酒后驾车广告的说服效果:规避伤害与克制冲动. 《国际新闻界》, (3)114-132. Cited in this article [1]

[2]	匡文波, 武晓立 (2021). 重大公共卫生事件中网络谣言传播模型构建与信息治理——基于对新型冠状病毒肺炎的谣言分析. 《现代传播(中国传媒大学学报)》,(10),126-134+155. Cited in this article [1]

[3]	潘文静, 孙纪开, 方洁 (2022). 食品安全虚假信息的接触和接受:感知威胁的中介作用和健康信息素养的调节作用. 《国际新闻界》,(10),74-95. Cited in this article [1]

[4]	王灿发(2010). 突发公共事件的谣言传播模式建构及消解. 《现代传播(中国传媒大学学报)》,(6),45-48. Cited in this article [1]

[5]	Ambady N., LaPlante D., Nguyen T., Rosenthal R., Chaumeton N., & Levinson W. (2002). Surgeons’ tone of voice: A clue to malpractice history. Surgery, 132(1), 5-9. Cited in this article [1]

[6]	Andersen P. A., & Blackburn T. R. (2004). An experimental study of language intensity and response rate in e mail surveys. Communication Reports, 17(2), 73-84. Cited in this article [1]

[7]	Barcelos R. H., Dantas D. C., & Sénécal S. (2018). Watch your tone: How a brand’s tone of voice on social media influences consumer responses. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 41, 60-80. Cited in this article [1]

[8]	Burgoon M. (1995). Language expectancy theory: Elaboration, explication, and extension. In Berger, C. R., & Burgoon, M. (Eds). Communication and Social Influence Processes (pp. 33-52). East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. Cited in this article [1]

[9]	Chattopadhyay A., Dahl D. W., Ritchie R. J. B., & Shahin K. N. (2003). Hearing voices: The impact of announcer speech characteristics on consumer response to broadcast advertising. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 13(3), 198-204. Cited in this article [1]

[10]	Chau C. (2005). Professional capital: An informational approach to nursing. In Hawamdeh, S.(Ed). Knowledge Management: Nurturing Culture, Innovation, and Technology (pp.671-673). Singapore, SG: World Scientific. Cited in this article [1]

[11]	Cheung C. M. K., Lee M. K. O., & Rabjohn N. (2008). The impact of electronic word-of-mouth: The adoption of online opinions in online customer communities. Internet Research, 18(3), 229-247. Cited in this article [1]

[12]	Clark J. K., Wegener D. T., Habashi M. M., & Evans A. T. (2012). Source expertise and persuasion: The effects of perceived opposition or support on message scrutiny. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(1), 90-100. Cited in this article [1]

[13]	Crano W. D., & Prislin R. (2006). Attitudes and persuasion. Annual Review of Psychology, 57(1), 345-374. Cited in this article [1]

[14]	Fujita K., Trope Y., Liberman N., Levin-Sagi M. (2006). Construal levels and self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(3), 351-367. Cited in this article [1]

[15]	Griskevicius V., Goldstein N. J., Mortensen C. R., Sundie J. M., Cialdini R. B., & Kenrick D. T. (2009). Fear and loving in Las Vegas: Evolution, emotion, and persuasion. Journal of Marketing Research, 46(3), 384-395. Cited in this article [2]

[16]	Guo S., Guo X., Fang Y., & Vogel D. (2017). How doctors gain social and economic returns in online health-care communities: A professional capital perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 34(2), 487-519. Cited in this article [1]

[17]	Jensen M. L., Averbeck J. M., Zhang Z., & Wright K. B. (2013). Credibility of anonymous online product reviews: A language expectancy perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 30(1), 293-324. Cited in this article [2]

[18]	Kardes F. R., Cronley M. L., & Kim J. (2006). Construal-level effects on preference stability, preference-behavior correspondence, and the suppression of competing brands. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 16(2), 135-144. Cited in this article [2]

[19]	Krishna A., & Ahluwalia R. (2008). Language choice in advertising to bilinguals: Asymmetric effects for multinationals versus local firms. Journal of Consumer Research, 35(4), 692-705. Cited in this article [1]

[20]	Kronrod A., & Danziger S. (2013). “Wii will rock you!” The use and effect of figurative language in consumer reviews of hedonic and utilitarian consumption. Journal of Consumer Research, 40(4), 726-739. Cited in this article [1]

[21]	Lee J. K., & Kronrod A. (2020). The strength of weak-tie consensus language. Journal of Marketing Research, 57(2), 353-374. Cited in this article [2]

[22]	Li K. (2021). Exploring the role of regulatory focus and processing fluency in the effectiveness of narrative versus non-narrative advertising: A study about sugar intake in the USA. Health Communication, 36(7), 837-846. Cited in this article [2]

[23]	Liu S., Zhang M., Gao B., & Jiang G. (2020). Physician voice characteristics and patient satisfaction in online health consultation. Information & Management, 57(5), 103233. Cited in this article [2]

[24]	Nisbett R. E., & Wilson T. D. (1977). The halo effect: Evidence for unconscious alteration of judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(4), 250-256. Cited in this article [1]

[25]	Pan L., McNamara G., Lee J. J., & Haleblian J. (John), Devers C. E. (2018). Give it to us straight (most of the time): Top managers’ use of concrete language and its effect on investor reactions. Strategic Management Journal, 39(8), 2204-2225. Cited in this article [8]

[26]	Peng W., Lim S., & Meng J. (2023). Persuasive strategies in online health misinformation: A systematic review. Information, Communication & Society, 26(11), 2131-2148. Cited in this article [1]

[27]	Schellekens G. A. C., Verlegh P. W. J., & Smidts A. (2010). Language abstraction in word of mouth. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 207-223. Cited in this article [4]

[28]	Slater M. D. (1997). Persuasion Processes Across Receiver Goals and Message Genres. Communication Theory, 7(2), 125-148. Cited in this article [1]

[29]	Toma C. L., & Hancock J. T. (2012). What lies beneath: The linguistic traces of deception in online dating profiles. Journal of Communication, 62(1), 78-97. Cited in this article [1]

[30]	Trope Y., & Liberman N. (2010). Construal-level theory of psychological distance. Psychological Review, 117(2), 440-463. Cited in this article [2]

[31]	Wang T., & Pavelko R. (2023). Engaging audience on social media: The persuasive impact of fit between humor and regulatory focus in health messages. Health Communication, 0(0), 1-12. Cited in this article [2]

[32]	Wu L., Shen H., Fan A., & Mattila A. S. (2017). The impact of language style on consumers’ reactions to online reviews. Tourism Management, 59, 590-596. Cited in this article [8]

Footnotes

1. 2019年网络谣言治理报告。检索于http://society.people.com.cn/n1/2019/1226/c1008-31524533.html。

2. 附录文件下载链接为：https://pan.baidu.com/s/1sgk9vFeoVfreU4BjTrqT4g?pwd=tk46。

Funding

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities “Research on Media Information Production Innovation and Communication Transformation in the Era of Intelligent Communication”(2023CDSKXYXW008)

Chongqing Language and Writing Research Funds “Research on Doctor’s Language Strategies and Their Mechanisms of Action to Promote Patient Satisfaction and Compliance”(yyk23208)

PDF(1762 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections

Recommended

Please choose a citation manager

Content to export