COMPARISON OF BELIEFS ABOUT ADVERTISING, ATTITUDE TOWARD ADVERTISING, AND MATERIALISM HELD BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND CAUCASIANS

This research investigated the relationship between advertising and materialism across African-American and Caucasian groups (87 students and 79 community adults) as well as general attitude toward advertising and beliefs about advertising. The association between attitude toward advertising and materialism was positive. The African-American respondents held more materialistic values than their Caucasian peers; they exhibited a more favorable general attitude toward advertising and held more favorable beliefs about advertising. These findings are consistent with the criticism that advertising is at least connected with materialistic values in our society.