Identifier

etd-04052006-095507

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Marketing (Business Administration)

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The decreased dependency of marketing managers on traditional message forms (i.e., commercials) has increased the use of nontraditional message forms (i.e., product placement) in marketing communication. These newer message forms are unique because their persuasive intent is concealed by the presentation method and, therefore, may be processed differently than the traditional message forms. Consequently, this paper examines three major issues that arise out of the integration of nontraditional message forms into marketing communication, including (1) incorporating nontraditional message forms into the traditional persuasion literature, (2) introducing a new persuasion element (termed masking of persuasive intent) and its role in the persuasion process, and (3) the inclusion of resistance to persuasion as a related outcome when including nontraditional approaches in a persuasion model. Message form (masking of persuasive intent) is proposed to serve as both an antecedent to processing and as a moderator of the persuasion model. Two models are generated based on the extant persuasion literature to test the model. The generalized model tests masking of persuasive intent as an antecedent and the message form-specific models test the moderating effect of message form. Findings confirm that the operation of the traditional persuasion model does not change with the addition of masking of persuasive intent and resistance to persuasion. However, masking of persuasive intent was found to act as an antecedent in the model, influencing processing style. Higher levels of masking of persuasive intent (product placement) involve more affective processing relative to cognitive processing. Product placement is an effective persuasion technique, but it is losing its uniqueness because of its widespread use. Although product placement is not as impactful as predicted, this research demonstrates that masking of persuasive intent does affect processing style, which ultimately impacts attitude change. In conclusion, both the traditional and nontraditional message forms can be used effectively to deliver a persuasive message. Product placement has the same benefits as the commercial, but may capture a larger number of people watching the program than commercials, which people may choose not to watch.

Date

2006

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

William C. Black

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.1676

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Marketing Commons

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