Mass Communication and the Sleeper Effect: Further Evidence that Fictional Narratives Can Be More Persuasive Over Time

• In Event: Top 4 Papers in Mass Communication

Abstract

A between-participants (N = 236) experiment tested for the presence of a sleeper effect following exposure to one of two mediated fictional narratives. A small but statistically significant sleeper effect was observed where participants were more likely to endorse false information from the television shows two weeks after exposure. Narrative transportation was also found to moderate this effect; increased transportation following exposure resulted in increased persuasion over time.

Authors

• Jakob Jensen, Purdue University

• Jennifer Bernat, Purdue University

• Kari Wilson, Purdue University

• Julie Goonewardene, Purdue University