Attitudes and the Prediction of Behavior: A Meta-Analysis of the Empirical Literature
Abstract
The relationship between attitudes and behavior has been the topic of considerable debate. This article reports a meta-analysis of 88 attitude-behavior studies that reveals that attitudes significantly and substantially predict future behavior (mean r = .38; combined p <<. 000000000001). Relatively large and significant moderating effects were found for the attitudinal variables of attitude certainty, stability, accessibility, affective-cognitive consistency, and direct experience (mean q = .39). A smaller but significant moderating effect was found for self-monitoring (mean q = .29). Methodological factors associated with high attitude-behavior correlations included self-report measures of behavior (q =. 22), the use of nonstudents as subjects (q =. 17), and corresponding levels of specificity in the attitude and behavior measures (mean q = .47). The practical magnitude of attitude-behavior correlations is considered, as are the future directions of attitude-behavior research.
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The relationship between the ideal L2 self and achievement is smaller than the expected correlation between attitudes and behavior in social psychology (r = .38, Kraus, 1995).
“The relationship between the ideal L2 self and achievement is also smaller than the expected correlation between attitudes and behavior in social psychology (r = .38,Kraus, 1995).”
From The L2 motivational self system: A meta-analysis (2018) · cites this paper as Kraus, 1995
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- Authors
- Kraus, S. J.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kraus, Stephen J.
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1995-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 58-75
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- OpenAlex
- W2126078878
- Cited by
- 1,613
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 53 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 73 · 2020: 146 · 2019: 75 · 2018: 81 · 2017: 73 · 2016: 82 · 2015: 102 · 2014: 80 · 2013: 75 · 2012: 77
- FWCI
- 13.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Keywords
- attitude-behavior relationship, attitude certainty, attitude stability, attitude accessibility, direct experience, self-monitoring, behavior prediction
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