Also referred to as appeal to expert, appeal to authority, expert opinion or inclusion of experts.

Example

“The Minister for Tertiary Education was earlier quoted saying “investment in our universities and TAFEs should be in the top three current national priorities”. ”

Effect on reader

Quotes and references to authorities are often used in conjunction with statistics, because they have the same overall effects. We are naturally inclined to listen to the advice or opinion expressed by an expert, like accepting medical advice from a doctor or legal advice from a lawyer. The source of the quote is particularly important though, as a reader is less likely to be persuaded by a quote when the speaker is not an expert or has a vested interest in the issue.