Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Gina Caucci

Committee Member

Roger Kreuz

Committee Member

Leah C Windsor

Abstract

Hyperbole is frequently used in interpersonal communication, yet little is known about its communicative function in casual discourse. This study aims to clarify the function of hyperbole in everyday speech, particularly in persuasive communication. Using Amazon product reviews, this study explores the effect of hyperbole and the moderating effects of term valence (i.e., positive and negative hyperbole) and product type (i.e., search and experience goods), on review helpfulness, which serves the measure of persuasion. The presence of positive and negative hyperbolic terms in over 22,000 product reviews was computed via LIWC. Individual Tobit regression analyses were performed for hyperbole and moderating factors. Results indicate overall and positive hyperbole increases review helpfulness, while negative hyperbole decreases helpfulness. Further, negative hyperbole was found to decrease review helpfulness for search goods, whereas overall and positive hyperbole increased helpfulness for experience goods.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.”

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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