How Top PR Professionals Handle Hearsay: Corporate Rumors, Their Effects, and Strategies to Manage Them

Public Relations Review

Volumn 26, Issue 2, 2000, Pages 173-190

  DiFonzo, Nicholas ^a   Bordia, Prashant ^b  

^a ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND   (Australia)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0000077140     PISSN: 03638111     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/S0363-8111(00)00039-4     Document Type: Article

References (47)

1. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "A tale of two corporations: Managing uncertainty during organizational change," Human Resource Management Journal 37 (1998), pp. 295-304; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Reining in Rumors," Organizational Dynamics 23 (1994), pp. 47-62.
2. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "A tale of two corporations: Managing uncertainty during organizational change," Human Resource Management Journal 37 (1998), pp. 295-304; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Reining in Rumors," Organizational Dynamics 23 (1994), pp. 47-62.
3. Larry R Smeltzer and Marie F. Zener, "Development of a Model for Announcing Major Layoffs," Group and Organization Studies 17 (1992), p. 468; see also Larry D. Burlew, Jo Ellyn Pederson, and Barbara Bradley, "The Reaction of Managers to the Preacquisition Stage of a Corporate Merger: A Qualitative Study," Journal of Career Development 21 (1994), pp. 11-22; Larry R. Smeltzer, "An analysis of Strategies for Announcing Organization-Wide Change," Group and Organization Studies 16 (1991), pp. 5-24.
4. Larry R Smeltzer and Marie F. Zener, "Development of a Model for Announcing Major Layoffs," Group and Organization Studies 17 (1992), p. 468; see also Larry D. Burlew, Jo Ellyn Pederson, and Barbara Bradley, "The Reaction of Managers to the Preacquisition Stage of a Corporate Merger: A Qualitative Study," Journal of Career Development 21 (1994), pp. 11-22; Larry R. Smeltzer, "An analysis of Strategies for Announcing Organization-Wide Change," Group and Organization Studies 16 (1991), pp. 5-24.
5. Larry R Smeltzer and Marie F. Zener, "Development of a Model for Announcing Major Layoffs," Group and Organization Studies 17 (1992), p. 468; see also Larry D. Burlew, Jo Ellyn Pederson, and Barbara Bradley, "The Reaction of Managers to the Preacquisition Stage of a Corporate Merger: A Qualitative Study," Journal of Career Development 21 (1994), pp. 11-22; Larry R. Smeltzer, "An analysis of Strategies for Announcing Organization-Wide Change," Group and Organization Studies 16 (1991), pp. 5-24.
6. Prashant Bordia and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Rumor Rest Stops on the Information Highway: A Naturalistic Study of Transmission Patterns in a Computer-Mediated Rumor Chain," Human Communication Research 25 (1998),pp. 163-179; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "Rumor and Prediction: Making Sense (But Losing Dollars) in the Stock Market," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 71 (1997), pp. 329-353; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
7. Prashant Bordia and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Rumor Rest Stops on the Information Highway: A Naturalistic Study of Transmission Patterns in a Computer-Mediated Rumor Chain," Human Communication Research 25 (1998),pp. 163-179; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "Rumor and Prediction: Making Sense (But Losing Dollars) in the Stock Market," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 71 (1997), pp. 329-353; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
8. Prashant Bordia and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Rumor Rest Stops on the Information Highway: A Naturalistic Study of Transmission Patterns in a Computer-Mediated Rumor Chain," Human Communication Research 25 (1998),pp. 163-179; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "Rumor and Prediction: Making Sense (But Losing Dollars) in the Stock Market," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 71 (1997), pp. 329-353; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
9. Prashant Bordia and Ralph L. Rosnow, "Rumor Rest Stops on the Information Highway: A Naturalistic Study of Transmission Patterns in a Computer-Mediated Rumor Chain," Human Communication Research 25 (1998),pp. 163-179; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, "Rumor and Prediction: Making Sense (But Losing Dollars) in the Stock Market," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 71 (1997), pp. 329-353; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
10. Response rate was calculated as in Don A. Dillman, Mail and telephone surveys: The Total Design Method (New York: Wiley, 1978), p. 50; completed returns divided by [number in sample - (ineligible + nonreachable)].
11. Ibid, pp. 79-199.
12. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1997, op. cit.; Ralph L. Rosnow, "Inside Rumor: A Personal Journey," American Psychologist 46 (1991), pp. 484-496.
13. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1997, op. cit.; Ralph L. Rosnow, "Inside Rumor: A Personal Journey," American Psychologist 46 (1991), pp. 484-496.
14. Gossip is different from rumor in that it is less significant/important and usually concerns matters that are more personal/private (Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1997, op. cit.); however, in common parlance the two are often not distinguished. To account for hearsay that was gossip, we, therefore, included it as a separate category.
15. Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
16. Ibid; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.
17. Ibid; Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998, op. cit.
18. Ibid; Larry Hirschhorn, Cutting back: Retrenchment and Redevelopment of Human and Community Services (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1983).
19. Ibid; Larry Hirschhorn, Cutting back: Retrenchment and Redevelopment of Human and Community Services (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1983).
20. cf., Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Artimus Chang, "Rumor as Group Problem-Solving: Development Patterns in Informal Computer-Mediated Groups," Small Group Research 30 (1999), pp. 8-28.
21. cf., Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.
22. Results were virtually the same when excluding ratings of 0 (i.e., "effect did not occur").
23. Larry Hatcher, A Step-by-Step Approach to Using the SAS System for Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc., 1994).
24. Results were virtually identical when excluding ratings of 0 (i.e., "strategy was not used").
25. Larry Hatcher, op. cit.
26. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
27. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
28. cf., Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Verity Travers, "Denying Rumors of Organizational Change: A Higher Source is Not Always Better," Communications Research Reports 15 (1998), pp. 189-198; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.; Easwar S. Iyer and Kathleen Debevec, "Origin of Rumor and Tone of Message in Rumor Quelling Strategies," Psychology and Marketing 8 (1991), pp. 161- 175.
29. cf., Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Verity Travers, "Denying Rumors of Organizational Change: A Higher Source is Not Always Better," Communications Research Reports 15 (1998), pp. 189-198; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.; Easwar S. Iyer and Kathleen Debevec, "Origin of Rumor and Tone of Message in Rumor Quelling Strategies," Psychology and Marketing 8 (1991), pp. 161- 175.
30. cf., Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Verity Travers, "Denying Rumors of Organizational Change: A Higher Source is Not Always Better," Communications Research Reports 15 (1998), pp. 189-198; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.; Easwar S. Iyer and Kathleen Debevec, "Origin of Rumor and Tone of Message in Rumor Quelling Strategies," Psychology and Marketing 8 (1991), pp. 161-175.
31. Ralph L. Rosnow, op. cit.
32. Robert R. Blake and Jane S. Mouton, "The Urge to Merge: Tying the Knot Successfully," Training and Development Journal 37 (1983), pp. 41-46; P. L. Hunsaker and M. W. Coombs, "Mergers and Acquisitions: Managing the Emotional Issues," Personnel Journal 67 (1988), pp. 56-78; Philip H. Mirvis, "Negotiations After The Sale: The Roots and Ramifications of Conflict in an Acquisition," Journal of Occupational Behavior 6 (1985), pp. 65-84.
33. Robert R. Blake and Jane S. Mouton, "The Urge to Merge: Tying the Knot Successfully," Training and Development Journal 37 (1983), pp. 41-46; P. L. Hunsaker and M. W. Coombs, "Mergers and Acquisitions: Managing the Emotional Issues," Personnel Journal 67 (1988), pp. 56-78; Philip H. Mirvis, "Negotiations After The Sale: The Roots and Ramifications of Conflict in an Acquisition," Journal of Occupational Behavior 6 (1985), pp. 65-84.
34. Robert R. Blake and Jane S. Mouton, "The Urge to Merge: Tying the Knot Successfully," Training and Development Journal 37 (1983), pp. 41-46; P. L. Hunsaker and M. W. Coombs, "Mergers and Acquisitions: Managing the Emotional Issues," Personnel Journal 67 (1988), pp. 56-78; Philip H. Mirvis, "Negotiations After The Sale: The Roots and Ramifications of Conflict in an Acquisition," Journal of Occupational Behavior 6 (1985), pp. 65-84.
35. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1997., op. cit.; Charles J. Walker and Bruce Blaine, "The Virulence of Dread Rumors: A Field Experiment," Language and Communication 11 (1991), pp. 291-297.
36. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1997., op. cit.; Charles J. Walker and Bruce Blaine, "The Virulence of Dread Rumors: A Field Experiment," Language and Communication 11 (1991), pp. 291-297.
37. Tomotsu Shibutani, Improvised News: A Sociological Study of Rumor (Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1966).
38. Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
39. Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Verity Travers, op. cit.; Easwar S. Iyer and Kathleen Debevec, op. cit.
40. Prashant Bordia, Nicholas DiFonzo, and Verity Travers, op. cit.; Easwar S. Iyer and Kathleen Debevec, op. cit.
41. Ralph L. Rosnow, John H. Yost, and James L. Esposito, "Belief in Rumor and Likelihood of Rumor Transmission," Language and Communication 8 (1986), pp. 29-42.
42. Robert Rosenthal and Ralph L. Rosnow, The Volunteer Subject (New York: Wiley, 1975).
43. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow 1994., op. cit.; Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
44. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow 1994., op. cit.; Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
45. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow 1994., op. cit.; Larry Hirschhorn, op. cit.
46. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, 1994., op. cit.
47. Nicholas DiFonzo and Prashant Bordia, 1998., op. cit.; Nicholas DiFonzo, Prashant Bordia, and Ralph L. Rosnow, 1994., op. cit.