Examining and extending the influence of presumed influence hypothesis in social media

The influence of presumed influence hypothesis (IPI) is a communication theory accounting for the process of persuasive media effects. The present study integrates theoretical perspectives in persuasion and new and traditional media effects research to investigate the assumptions and explanatory mechanisms of IPI in an experiment. View numbers in social media directly predicted presumed exposure by others and indirectly predicted presumed influence on others, consistent with IPI and inconsistent with the bandwagon heuristic. Presumed exposure predicted presumed influence, consistent with IPI. Other predictors of presumed exposure and presumed influence were also found. Self’s evaluation of the message (realism) and engagement in the message (identification) predicted presumed exposure by others and presumed influence on others, supporting the expectation that a motivational mechanism of IPI is self-centric social perception. Social media message view numbers did not predict persuasive outcomes directly, but the evaluation of and engagement in the message did. Finally, the data were inconsistent with the assumption of pervasive mass media reach. This study provides theoretical implications for examining persuasive effects of social media messages, while enhancing and expanding IPI. Limitations of the study and directions for future research are discussed.

Files

Metadata

Work Title Examining and extending the influence of presumed influence hypothesis in social media
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Hyunyi Cho
  2. Lijiang Shen
  3. Lulu Peng
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Media Psychology
Publication Date January 1, 2021
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2020.1729812
Deposited November 15, 2021

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added Cho_et_al._2021.pdf
  • Added Creator Hyunyi Cho
  • Added Creator Lijiang Shen
  • Added Creator Lulu Peng
  • Published
  • Updated
  • Updated
  • Updated