Some Perceived Dimensions of Brief Messages.

Contemporary research conceptualizes messages to include dimensions of intensity, equivocation, opinionatedness, and figurativeness. This paper seeks to evaluate and clarify such concepts by identifying the message dimensions actually perceived by receivers. Factor analysis (with varimax and oblique rotations) of message ratings from 211 college students revealed a total of five factors: In offensiveness, Certainty, Interest, Novelty, and Figurativeness. Results were interpreted as providing tentative and partial support for current conceptualizations of equivocation and figurativeness as message dimensions. (Author/AA)