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Which of the following communications is most likely to have more credibility among its receivers?

1) GM's magazine ads introducing its latest models
2) The magazine Motor Trend announcing the "Car of the Year"
3) A Honda ad promoting hybrid cars
4) Celine Dion's appearance in Air Canada commercials

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Motor Trend announcing the "Car of the Year" is the most credible form of communication among the options provided, due to their status as an independent automotive authority. This is based on the principles that advertising's effectiveness relies on credibility and expertise more than mere attractiveness or celebrity endorsement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the communications provided, Motor Trend announcing the "Car of the Year" is most likely to have more credibility among its receivers. This is because Motor Trend, as an established automotive magazine, is an independent authority with assumed expertise in evaluating cars, which suggests that their award and recognition could be based on merit and objective criteria. In contrast, ads by GM or Honda are self-promotional and are crafted by the companies themselves, hence less likely to be perceived as impartial.

While celebrities like Celine Dion can attract attention and leverage their popularity in advertising, the credibility is often linked to the celebrity's relevance to the product. In this case, Celine Dion is not an automotive or travel expert, so her appearances in Air Canada commercials may boost awareness but not necessarily lend credibility to the service from an expert standpoint.

Advertising strategies often use associative learning to link a product with positive attributes, such as attractiveness or a celebrity's fame. However, the long-term impact of persuasion also deeply relies on the credibility of the messenger. Ads that rely on credible sources are generally more effective in influencing consumers' beliefs and behaviors than those that do not. Therefore, while ads may catch our attention using various techniques, the ones that provide informed, expert opinions are more likely to be persuasive in a credible way.

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