Integration theory and attitude change.

Abstract

A theory of information integration is applied to attitudes and social judgments, based on a principle of information integration. For quantitative analysis, a simple but general algebraic model of judgment is used, in which each informational stimulus is characterized by two parameters, scale value and weight. Functional measurement procedures are employed to derive equal-interval scales of parameter values. Exact tests based on analysis of variance are given for four applications of the model, and these applications are reconsidered under the further restriction imposed by the averaging hypothesis. Qualitative comparisons are made to several other theories of attitude change. Tendencies toward balance and congruity are shown to be consequences of the principle of information integration. Critical tests between integration theory, and balance and congruity theories are also suggested. Similar comparisons are made to summation theory, logical-consistency theory, assimilation-contrast theory, and similarity-attraction theory. Molar and molecular analyses of communication structure are considered briefly and the analysis of inconsistency resolution within integration theory is also discussed. Finally, it is noted that integration theory has had reasonable success in the areas of learning, perception, judgment, decision making, and personality impressions, as well as attitude change. It may thus provide a beginning to a unified general theory.Attitude change stands out from most continually impinge on the person, in life areas of experimental psychology in the or in the laboratory, and he must integrate nature of its stimuli. In even the simplest them with one another as well as with his investigations of attitudes and opinions, prior opinions and attitudes. Social judgthe stimuli typically carry information at a ments are typically based on a cumulation cognitive level not often reached in other of various pieces of information, sometimes areas of research. Informational stimuli of the most diverse nature. Factual and !This work was supported by grants from the hearsay evidence, rumors, prestige associ-National Science Foundation (GB-6666) and the ations, gesture and appearance, may all a^lS'the SSal tt>» Menfaf bear on the final attitude. Information in-Health to the Center for Human Information Pro-tegration is thus fundamental in attitude cessing,

Personality inference from voice quality: The loud voice of extroversion

“…Anderson, 1971; Hastorf et a/., 1970). However, in many of the relevant studies verbal stimuli are used exclusively as information input.…”

A functional measurement analysis of the development of dimensional coordination in children

“…As will become obvious in the conceptualization of this problem, the terra "integration" will refer to any systematic coordination of dimensions, regsirdless of the manner in which the integration process takes place. The experimental design amd analysis represent the conceptiialization of this problem in a new perspective: that of information integration theory and functional measurement (Anderson, 1970(Anderson, , 1971• Thus, in addition to an investigation into the nature of centration in dimensional integration, this study exemplified a new experimental approach to the problems of children's cognitive and perceptual judgments in problem solving tasks. Since the procedures involved in functional measurement are relatively unfamiliar to developmental psychologists, a separate section elaborating some of those basic assumptions and techniques applicable to this study will follow asi analysis of the current status of the problem of centration amd multidimensional coordination.…”

“…Statistically, this theoretical form corresponds to a significant bilinear componet of the row x column interaction, and if both and = 1, the nonsignif icance of the residual component. Stimulus scaling and weighing estimation are considerably more difficult with multiplication models, but some procedures are available (Anderson, 1971 The entire apparatus is placed on a second piece of plywood of identical dimensions but without the cut-out display window, so that each of the four display windows consists of a 2 cm deep recessed area wherein the stimuli may he placed. The apparatus rests on a 2 inch high wooden frame in order to raise it off its hase.…”

Test of an additive model of social inference.

“…Certain experimental designs do not allow the distinction between constant-weight averaging models and additive models. When appropriate designs have been used, research in several information integration domains has ruled out additive models in favor of averaging formulations (Anderson, 1971;Birnbaum, 1974; Birnbaum et al, in press).It is important to note that the "additive, values of instances model" of Gollob et al (1973) is not additive in the traditional sense and can account for a result that would ordinarily be interpreted as critical evidence against adding models. Gollob et al (1973) assume that the impact of redundant information will be less.…”

“…Thus, a given piece of information should produce the same directional effect on the social inference, independent of other instances in the set. In contrast, averaging models of information integration (Anderson, 1971(Anderson, , 1974a(Anderson, , 1974bBirnbaum, 1973Birnbaum, , 1974 This project was initiated at Kansas State University with the support of Kansas Bureau of General Research. We thank Harry Gollob, Robert Abelson, Robert Wyer, and Gerald Clore for their helpful criticisms.…”