Coms 2020 - online Assignment

Abby Luckhaupt

COMS 2020

Candice Thomas-Maddox

Online Assignment #2

Part One

        Did you know that, on average, over 2,500 people die each year due to a home fire?  Did you know, on average, 500 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning each year?  These numbers are astoundingly high and alarming.

        Home fire deaths in which no smoke alarms were present, or in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate, accounted for 60 percent of all home fire deaths.  That is three out of every five homes. Smoke alarms were lacking in 37 percent of home fire deaths, and at least one alarm was present but non-operational in 23 percent.  I believe that by installing and maintaining fire alarms the majority of the lives lost could be saved.

        As we all know, carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.  25 states require that residents have a carbon monoxide alarm in their homes but in December 2012, 10 states exempted residences that don’t have internal carbon monoxide-producing sources (gas stove or fireplace) or an attached garage in which a car could be left idling.  This move worries toxicologists who fear that these exemptions may give people a false sense of security.  Every home, whether it be a private home or a retirement home, should have a carbon monoxide detector.

        As for the price, I believe that asking each of you for $100 is very fair.  I understand that $100 is a high amount, but these smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are the best of the best.  These detectors are a vital part of keeping each and every single one of you alive.  We want to do our best to make sure you are living happily and safely here in your home.  Therefore, we kindly ask each of you to please give $100 to ensure your protection in this shelter home.

Part Two

• Information Selection: The main reason I chose to include numbers and percentages is because I strongly believe that elders like concrete facts.  They like to know exact information.  From the book in chapter 1, I believe I used “The Knowledge and Awareness Function: Inquiring Minds Want to Know” because it will enhance your knowledge and awareness of a variety of persuasive processes.  I was trying to persuade the elders but at the same time I was giving them awareness about how unsafe it is to not have a smoke or carbon dioxide detector.  In chapter 2, I believe I was using context as an important part.  The context in which persuasion occurs, in this scenario, a large group, is crucial because it is the context that determines the nature of the communication process.  In this scenario, I would be talking to a large group of seniors, therefore context is very important.  In chapter 3, I believe attitude plays a part in what I say to the seniors.  If my attitude is negative, the seniors will not take me seriously.  If my attitude is positive, then the seniors will view me as credible and believable.  In chapter 4, I believe a dimension of credibility is especially important.  This aspect is trustworthiness.  I believe that if I were to look and act trustworthy, the elders would take me more seriously and respect me more.  In chapter 5, demographics are a very important aspect to my persuasion method.  The fact that my target audience is quite old, means they’re less likely to change their way of thinking.  They’re generally more “set in their ways.”  In chapter 6, conformity is very important.  The size of the group affects conformity.  Increasing the number of people in a group affects informational and normative processes differently.  Based on these characteristics, I believe a lot has to go into the persuasion process to get the results I need.
• Attitudes & Audience Demographics:  The attitude of the elders is very important.  I believe that if the elders are angry, then their perception of my presentation will be bad and negative.  My attitude towards the elders also matters because I need to be polite and positive, so I can persuade them to give the $100 for a new smoke and carbon dioxide detector.  The age of the elders (70-85) is very important.  The elder population is used to thinking one way, so changing their thoughts may be challenging.  Ethnicity and culture also play a role in persuasion.  Depending on the race of the elders, that might have a huge impact on their decision making.
• Credibility:  I believe that having credibility is a huge deciding factor in most decisions.  In chapter 4, to enhance my credibility, I would be extremely trustworthy and have strong goodwill and lots of expertise in the field.  Although credibility is a complex construct, there is one overriding generalization about credibility that persuaders can “take to the bank”: Credibility is a good thing to have if you are a persuader.  Credibility is a perceptual phenomenon.  I believe that demographics also play a large role in my persuasion technique.  The elders are ages 70 to 85 meaning they’re used to thinking one way.  Changing their minds might be difficult.  According to gender, men are more successful at persuading others than women.  This may be difficult for me considering the fact that I am a woman.  Culture and ethnicity also play a huge role in this scenario.  Depending on the elder’s race and beliefs, that will also impact their decisions.
• Group Conformity & Influence:  I believe the number of elders plays a huge part in the persuasion process.  If one elder disagrees with the $100 and four agree, the one elder who disagrees is more likely to change his/her mind to agree with the other four.  Females are also more likely to conform than males.  I believe conformity plays an enormous role in persuasion because all of the elders are more likely to follow one another if I do a good job persuading them to put in $100 each.