Telepresence and Exemplification in Health Messages: The Relationships among Spatial and Social Presence and Exemplars and Exemplification Effects

This research examined the role of telepresence in exemplification processes. Participants viewed one of eight news stories that represented various exemplar conditions and responded about their levels of spatial and social presence while reading and the severity of, likelihood of, and behavioral intentions associated with the topic of the story. Spatial and social presence were both positively related to each of the outcome measures. The inclusion of a quote in the story increased spatial, but not social, presence. A picture did not increase either type of telepresence. These findings are discussed, as are limitations and directions for future research.