Locus of control and the effectiveness of persuasive communications: Changing dental health practices as measured by a chemical agent

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dc.contributor.advisorEvans, Richard I.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRozelle, Richard M.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberStimmel, David Theron
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCampion, James E.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMahoney, Leo G.
dc.creatorDembroski, Theodore M.
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-28T15:50:53Z
dc.date.available2022-06-28T15:50:53Z
dc.date.copyright1969
dc.date.issued1969
dc.description.abstractThe present study look place within the context, of a more comprehensive natural setting research effort. The purpose of the present investigation was to measure the relationship between both general and dental related locus of control expectancies and the effects of emotional arousing communications on intentions, reported behavior, actual behavior, expressed anxiety, and information retention. The experimental procedure utilized a pretest-treatment-posttest design. The major pretest measurement was cleanliness of teeth which was assessed by a chemical in tablet form called a 'disclosing tablet' which, when chewed, stains red the areas of bacterial placque concentration on the teeth and can be considered index of actual toothbrushing behavior. Pretest measurements also included biographical data, reported dental hygiene practices, and expectancies of locus of control. Seventh and eighth grade students (n=394) from three junior high schools in the Houston area were employed as Ss. Ss were highly similar in socio-economic background the experimental conditions included a high and a low fear, positive, elaborated recommendation, and a recommendation only communications. Three posttest assessments were taken immediately, five Jays, and six weeks after the experimental treatments. All of the posttests included measures of information retention, intention to behave, as well as reported behavior and anxiety. Cleanliness of teeth measures were taken at the 5-day and 6-week posttests. It was hypothesized that internals would express less anxiety, more reported and actual behavior change, retain more information, and express more positive intentions to behave than externals. Externals were predicted to comply minimally with recommendations in the high fear condition and maximally in the low fear and positive conditions. On the basis of the measures of general and specific control expectancies, the results did not support the differential predictions made for internals and externals on intentions, expressed anxiety, reported behavior, or actual behavior. The data did suggest a strong information retention difference between both general and dental specific internals and externals that was in the predicted directions.
dc.description.departmentPsychology, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.other11976450
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/10007
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.
dc.subjectLocus of control
dc.subjectDental hygiene
dc.titleLocus of control and the effectiveness of persuasive communications: Changing dental health practices as measured by a chemical agent
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
dcterms.accessRightsThe full text of this item is not available at this time because it contains documents that are presumed to be under copyright and are accessible only to users who have an active CougarNet ID. This item will continue to be made available through interlibrary loan.
thesis.degree.departmentPsychology, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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