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This study was designed to determine if person-focused evidence influenced advisees' immediate reaction to
advice within naturalistic conversations. Person focus refers to the person whose perspectives or experiences are
addressed in the evidence provided by the advisor in support of the advice. This study differs from prior work
on response to advice by focusing on the effect of the evidence rather than qualities of the advice itself.
 Based on constructivist theory,
politeness theory, and
argumentation theory (Brown &
Levinson, 1987; Burleson, 2007;
Feng & Burleson, 2008).
 Greater use of advisee-focused evidence
will be associated with more positive
evaluation, less negative evaluation,
more elaboration, and more planning.
 Greater use of advisor-focused evidence
will be associated with less positive
evaluation, more negative evaluation,
less elaboration, and less planning.
 Greater use of third-party and
impersonal evidence will be associated
with more positive evaluation and less
negative evaluation, and greater use of
third-party evidence will be associated
with more questions.
 Greater use of impersonal evidence will
result in more positive evaluation and
more planning.
In a laboratory context, pairs of college
student friends (N=156 dyads)
discussed a problem one of them was
currently experiencing. Transcripts
were coded for advice, immediate
responses to advice, and person-
focused evidence. I worked with two
graduate students to develop and test
the coding system, and assisted with
data entry once the advice was coded.
 Use of advisor-focused evidence will likely result in the
individual doing less talking, planning and requesting.
 Use of advisee-focused evidence will likely result in the
individual being more elaborative throughout the interaction.
 Use of third and involved party focus will likely result in greater
elaboration.
Poster based on paper: Ryan D. Cummings, Erina L. MacGeorge, Helen Lillie, Ryan D. Cummings,
Erina L. MacGeorge, Helen Lillie, Sara Branch, Liliya Yakova, Cynthia Lindley, Rebekah Pastor,
Jessica Robinson, Brenda Ramirez, Cade Barella, & Lisa Guntzviller (2014). The Person Focus of
Evidence as a Predictor of Immediate Response to Advice. Paper submitted for presentation at the
2014 conference of the National Communication Association, Chicago, IL.
Faculty mentor: Dr. Erina L. MacGeorge
Also a big thank you to the DURI program.
The Person Focus of Evidence as a Predictor of Immediate Response to Advice
Brenda Ramirez
Purdue University
Methods
Hypotheses
Results
Discussion
References
Acknowledgements
Introduction