In Festinger and Carlsmith's (1959) Classic Study on Cognitive Dissonance

question 49

Multiple Choice

In Festinger and Carlsmith's (1959) classic study on cognitive dissonance, which involved participants engaging in a boring task with wooden pegs, one group was paid $1 to lie about how fun the task was. This group subsequently changed their attitude about the task to one that was much more positive, compared to another group that was paid $20 to lie. What BEST explains the more positive attitude of the group that was paid $1?

• A) They were unable to otherwise rationalize their lying behavior.
• B) They tended to describe themselves as liars to begin with.
• C) They thought that the experimenter would pay them more for being positive.
• D) They truly enjoyed the task throughout the entire experiment.

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Definitions:

Average Age

The mean age of a group of individuals, calculated by adding their ages together and dividing by the number of individuals.

Random

A process or selection made without method or conscious decision, which is unpredictable and without a discernible pattern.

Census

A comprehensive count and survey of a population, usually conducted by a government.

Response Rate

The percentage of people who respond or react to a request or stimulus, often used in research or surveys.