Arrow, HollyGarinther, Alexander2021-04-292021-04-29https://hdl.handle.net/1794/26215Cooley, Payne, Cipolli, Cameron, Berger, and Gray (2017) found that subtle shifts in linguistic framing (saying “people in a group” instead of “a group of people”) can enhance the amount of “mind” perceived in a target, and in turn increase feelings of sympathy toward that target. This project adds four studies designed to test if these findings generalize to new contexts. Studies 1 and 2 perform conceptual replications of Cooley et al. (2017)’s Studies 2 and 3 in a different participant population (university students, instead of mTurk workers), and found largely consistent results: the group composition frame (“15 individuals who work for a small accounting company”) evoked greater perceptions of experience and agency (the two components of mind perception), and more sympathy for the target, than the group frame (“a small accounting company comprised of 15 people”). Studies 3 and 4 then tested whether or not the group composition frame would lead to similar persuasive outcomes (increased mind perception, helping motivation, and donations) in a refugee aid context, but found limited evidence that it would. While the group composition frame appeared to result in increased perceptions of experience, it elicited levels of agency, helping motivation, and donation amounts no different from the group frame or from an individual. This project aims to deepen our understanding of these framing effects and their boundaries so that those who wish to apply them, for instance charities or fundraisers helping refugees, may have a better sense of how and when they are likely to be effective. Note this dissertation includes not-yet-published co-authored material.en-USAll Rights Reserved.charitable givingframingmind perceptionpersuasionrefugeesreproducibilityElectronic Thesis or Dissertation