title: Source credibility and evidence format: examining the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS messages for young African Americans.
abstract: Using experimental methodology, this study tests the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention messages tailored specifically to college-aged African Americans. To test interaction effects, it intersects source role and evidence format. The authors used gain-framed and loss-framed information specific to young African Americans and HIV to test message effectiveness between statistical and emotional evidence formats, and for the first time, a statistical/emotional combination format. It tests which source--physician or minister--that young African Americans believe is more effective when delivering HIV/AIDS messages to young African Americans. By testing the interaction between source credibility and evidence format, this research expands knowledge on creating effective health messages in several major areas. Findings include a significant interaction between the role of physician and the combined statistical/emotional format. This message was rated as the most effective way to deliver HIV/AIDS prevention messages.
authors.affiliation: School of Journalism, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, USA. lhmajor@indiana.edu
authors.forename: Lesa Hatley
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Renita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D013690:Television; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult