Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
05:48
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
Ease of imagination, message framing, and physical activity messages
Tanya R Berry1, Valerie Carson
1Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Tanya.berry@ualberta.ca
British Journal of Health Psychology
|June 3, 2009
Summary
This study found that imagining difficult heart disease symptoms negatively impacted attitudes towards physical activity, especially for those who exercised least. Message framing did not significantly influence attitudes.
Area of Science:
- Health Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Background:
- Message framing and ease of imagination are key factors influencing health behavior attitudes.
- Previous research suggested interactions between framing and imagination ease in health messaging.
- This study aimed to replicate and extend prior findings by focusing on physical activity and incorporating exercise frequency as a moderator.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate a study on message framing and ease of imagination's effect on attitudes toward physical activity for heart disease prevention.
- To assess physical activity behavior as a potential moderator.
- To test hypotheses regarding gain-framed vs. loss-framed messages and their interaction with symptom imagination ease.
Main Methods:
- A 2x2 Solomon square design was used with 175 participants (adults over 55 and undergraduates).
- Participants were exposed to either easy or hard-to-imagine heart disease symptoms and read gain- or loss-framed physical activity messages.
- Attitudes, exercise frequency, and demographics were assessed via post-test questionnaires.
Main Results:
- No significant main effects of message framing on attitudes were found.
- Ease of imagination significantly impacted attitudes toward physical activity.
- Exercise frequency emerged as a significant moderating variable.
Conclusions:
- The study failed to replicate the original findings regarding message framing effects.
- Participants who exercised less and were in the hard-to-imagine condition reported poorer attitudes toward physical activity.
- Ease of imagination and exercise frequency play crucial roles in shaping attitudes towards physical activity for disease prevention.
Related Concept Videos
03:26Framing Effects
Information is everywhere and its presentation—such as how and when items are presented—can impact our perceptions and decisions surrounding the info. This broad concept umbrellas framing effects—influences that occur due to the way information is framed in its appearance, whether it’s purely the order or the specific wording of a message. Let’s take a look at numerous ways in which two versions of something can objectively say the same thing, yet we respond in different ways based on the...
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...
02:20Routes of Persuasion
Persuasion is the process of changing our attitude toward something based on some kind of communication. Much of the persuasion we experience comes from outside forces. How do people convince others to change their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors? What communications do you receive that attempt to persuade you to change your attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors?
01:29Magical Thinking
Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
01:19Managing Impressions
Impression management encompasses individuals' deliberate efforts to shape how others perceive them during social interactions. This behavior is often employed to conform to social norms, secure approval, or pursue specific goals. While it involves selective self-presentation, it is not necessarily deceptive; individuals frequently present authentic aspects of themselves that align with situational demands.Common strategies include:Ingratiation: where individuals use flattery or agreeableness...
01:30Barriers to Effective Communication I
A communication barrier is any distortion or interruption during a conversation, resulting in miscommunication of the message. A good communicator should know these barriers and continuously check for the listener's understanding by obtaining feedback.
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...
Communication barriers include the following:
Physiological barriers: They are limitations caused by a person's health condition or disability, such as hearing loss, poor eyesight, illness, or unconsciousness. An example to overcome this barrier...