Discussion
This study used meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of inoculation treatments
at conferring resistance as well as the potential moderators of inoculation effects.
Research on Inoculation Theory 301
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Unlike other theories of resistance that address why people might resist persuasive
messages (e.g., psychological reactance), inoculation theory addresses how best to
intentionally confer resistance. Due to its emphasis on strategically counteracting
persuasive communication, inoculation theory is one of the fundamental theories
of resistance (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993), and learning about the overall effectiveness of
inoculation as well as how certain moderating variables influence the process are of
crucial importance.