Abstract
Selective exposure to information about marijuana and tranquilizers by their respective users was tested. Variables included commitment to exposure, frequency of use, and degree of certainty about the effects of the drugs. Lists of magazine articles including titles on harmful and benign nature of marijuana and tranquilizers were distributed to 344 university students and 234 students and adults respectively.
Subjects selected a ranking preference of given topics thinking they would be reading their prime chosen articles. A short questionnaire concerning the frequency of use, attitudes on harmfulness, dependency, and discouragement of the drug in question followed the rankings. Results of a two-factor analysis of variance (type of title and use or nonuse of marijuana or tranquilizers) for the rankings of the drug titles showed no evidence for selective exposure among marijuana or tranquilizer users.
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