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The investigation examined attitude accessibility as an alternative to the accepted explanation, which is based on threat and counterarguing, for the way that inoculation confers resistance to influence. A total of 333 participants took part in the study in three phases spanning 36 days. The results of multivariate and correlational analyses indicated that inoculation treatments confer resistance, in part, by promoting attitude accessibility. Inoculation treatments immediately elicit attitude accessibility, which enhances attitude strength. Attitude strength, in time, contributes to resistance to the influence of counterattitudinal attacks. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Pfau et al. (2003) studied this question.