Final answer:
b)An attractive and popular student is likely to deliver a more effective message to reduce cheating among high school students due to their perceived credibility and relatability among peers, which align with principles of persuasiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
A message intended to reduce cheating among high school students is more likely to be effective if it is delivered by an attractive and popular student. This is because features of the source of the persuasive message, such as the credibility of the speaker and the physical attractiveness of the speaker, are known to enhance persuasiveness. Studies have shown that speakers who are credible or have expertise on the topic, and who are deemed trustworthy, are more persuasive than less credible speakers. Also, more attractive speakers are found to be more persuasive.
Out of the options given, a local politician, while potentially credible, may not have the same level of influence on high school students compared to their peers. An elderly teacher might have the expertise and trustworthiness but may lack the peer influence that comes with physical attractiveness and social standing among teenagers. Therefore, an attractive and popular student can employ both trustworthiness and peer influence to reduce cheating effectively.