ABSTRACT
The role of attitude accessibility as a moderator of the attitude-behaviour relation has been highlighted by Fazio. Initial research on this approach addressed the role of direct experience with the attitude object. According to Regan and Fazio, direct behavioural experience creates attitudes that are held with greater clarity, confidence and stability compared to attitudes formed via indirect information about the attitude object. Because of these attributes, experience-based attitudes are thought to be more accessible and, ultimately, to be more powerful determinants of future behaviour. These hypotheses were supported in numerous studies. In a field study conducted by Regan and Fazio, first year students at Cornell University were asked for their attitudes towards alleviating a housing crisis and were then provided with the opportunity to engage in some related activities. Importantly, the study was conducted in a period when there was not enough student housing, so some students had to stay in temporary dormitories.
