In order to replicate the sleeper effect, the participant must be aware of the essential arguments, the discounting cue must be presented after the message, and they must reflect on the trustworthiness fo the presenter of the message.

The Sleeper Effect: Requirements for Replication

- Source forgetting interpretation
- Dissociation interpretation
- Differential decay hypothesis

Interpretations of the Sleeper Effect

When a message is conveyed along with a discounting factor (an element that makes the message untrustworthy), there will be a delayed increase in acceptance of the message. This is a controversial concept, as it is difficult to replicate without meeting certain criteria.

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In typical, effective communications, the recipient is initially more persuaded, but over time the messaging loses its persuasive effects on the individual.

Decay of Persuasion 

A source's credibility significantly enhances their persuasiveness. Individuals who are perceived as experts on a topic and are considered trustworthy are more likely to influence an audience's attitude. Furthermore, the credibility of the messenger is a crucial factor in determining both the immediate and long-term effectiveness of the persuasion.

Credibility of the Source in Persuasion

Pratkanis, A. R., Greenwald, A. G., Leippe, M. R., &amp; Baumgardner, M. H. (1988). In search of reliable persuasion effects: III. The Sleeper Effect Is Dead: Long live the sleeper effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(2), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.2.203 

In Search of Reliable Persuasion Effects: III. The Sleeper Effect is Dead. Long Live the Sleeper Effect.

- Presumed credibility
- Surface credibility
- Earned credibility
- Reported credibility

Heuristics of Credibility for Web-based Information

A city is launching a campaign to persuade its residents to participate in a new, complex composting program. To maximize the campaign's success, which of the following individuals would be the most effective primary spokesperson?

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