Department - Author 1

Communication Studies Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BA in Communication Studies

Date

12-2017

Primary Advisor

Dr. Conway-Silva

Abstract/Summary

This study discusses framing and communication tactics in the medical field. It specifically aims to understand whether expertise and empathetic nonverbal communication impacts patient willingness to comply with physician directives in gain- and loss-framed medical settings. Framing has been studied in many settings, including medical situations, and has been found to impact decision-making. This experiment utilizes college-aged individuals to examine Meningitis, a disease where the most at-risk group is college aged young adults. Participants were exposed to one of six conditions to examine whether perceived expertise/empathy in their scenario impacted willingness to comply with the doctor directives. Although no mediation effects were discovered, the presence of nonverbal communication that portrayed expertise, as well as the level of perceived empathy, predicted willingness to comply.

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