This dissertation is accessible only to the Illinois State University community.
- Off-Campus ISU Users: To download this item, click the "Off-Campus Download" button below. You will be prompted to log in with your ISU ULID and password.
- Non-ISU Users: Contact your library to request this item through interlibrary loan.
Graduation Term
2018
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
School of Communication
Committee Chair
Daniel C. Davis
Abstract
This thesis investigates how communication and design of persuasive health messages influence people's attitude, intention, and dietary habits in relation to a scientifically proven disease prevention diet: the whole-grains, plant-based diet. The discussion of plant-based diet addressed the medical, nutritional, psycho-ethical, sociological, and environmental concerns. The Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) is a communicative framework using fear and danger appeals to provide danger prevention alternatives, thus helping people to adopt new behaviors. The application of the EPPM will further analyze how communication messages can motivate and convince people in adopting a plant-based diet.
A quantitative and qualitative data collection process was conducted to analyze the usefulness of the EPPM for promoting the whole-grains, plant-based diet (Fehrenbach, 2015; Witte & Allen, 2000). Quantitative research participants were assigned randomly to one of the five groups with varied threat and efficacy message parameters and filled out an immediate post-test survey about danger control (i.e., attitude, intention, and behavior) and fear control outcomes (i.e., perceived manipulative intent, message derogation, and defensive avoidance). Survey participants were contacted again after one weeks to take a Time 2 survey for tracking actual behavioral changes. One-Way ANOVA and MANOVA were used in testing the significance of threat and efficacy in health messages. This thesis focused on implications of the findings for optimal rhetorical design of persuasive messages about plant-based diets.
Access Type
Thesis-ISU Access Only
Recommended Citation
Cheong, Ka Kei, "Using the Extended Parallel Process Model To Influence Adoption of a Plant-Based Diet" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 849.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/849
DOI
http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2018.Cheong.K