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The Effects of Type of Information and Method of Dissemination on the Reporting of a Shoplifter
Author(s) -
Klentz Bonnel,
Beaman Arthur L.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1981.tb00823.x
Subject(s) - psychology , presentation (obstetrics) , mass media , social media , control (management) , social psychology , information dissemination , medical education , advertising , medicine , world wide web , computer science , business , artificial intelligence , radiology
The present study demonstrated increased reporting rates of a staged shoplifting in a university bookstore. Two methods of information presentation (lecture format, mass‐media campaign) succeeded in producing these effects. The type of information given to 72 male and 99 female students was also varied and included: (1) how and why to report shoplifting, (2) the social‐psychological factors which inhibit reporting, and (3) a combination of these. All types of information increased the reporting rates compared to the control groups. The lecture format increased reporting rates above that of the mass‐media groups. No sex differences were found. The findings have implications for the way factual knowledge and attitudes interact in influencing behavior.