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The conditions under which a competent source induces a less competent target to appropriate a contrary point of view were studied in a context of information transmission. University students (N = 162) had to predict the results of a bogus scientific study carried out by a researcher on friendship groups. Bogus findings that contradicted their initial beliefs were then presented. In a 2x2x2 factorial design, the researcher presented these findings in either an authoritarian or a democratic style ; participants assessed their own abilities in this topic in comparison to the source in a negative interdependent way or in an independent way ; on the base of the competence they attributed to themselves they were divided into low vs high self-competent participants. The main dependent variables were the degree to which participants : a) approved the conclusions of the study ; and b) appropriated the information contradicting their own initial position. Results showed that : a) approval was lower when the source had an authoritarian style and when the comparison was made in a negative interdependent way ; b) the appropriation measure revealed a marginal interaction between the modality of social comparison and the level of perceived self-competence as well as the significant higher order interaction : The information was more extensively appropriated in two democratic conditions, namely when the low self- competent compared to the source in the negatively interdependent way, and when the high self- competent participants compared to the source in the independent way. These results partially confirmed predictions derived from a correspondence hypothesis according to which appropriation of knowledge is favoured when relevant characteristics of the influence relationship with an epistemic authority match key expectations that individuals have concerning this relationship.
