F. H. Allport’s scientific contributions

A questionnaire concerning the degree of belief in 12 statements of current rumors was circulated to adults through children in 8 Syracuse schools. Attitudes toward rationing and wartime administration were also solicited. The 537 complete returns are analyzed to reveal possible factors associated with belief in rumors. Various statistical controls were tried to delimit the combined influence of several factors. The reasoning is presented in detailed research notes. The rumors were believed in one fourth of the cases. Belief was associated with previous hearing of the rumors, antirationing attitudes, suspicion of slackerism, and failure to read the Rumor Clinic column. Relationship to sex, age, or occupation is doubtful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)