Dr. Cirillo divided her first-period class into two groups. One group had to read 20 pages in a boring psychology text, but would get 2 extra points on the next test. The other group also read 20 pages but were given 25 points towards the next test. The class members were then asked to tell the second-period class how interesting the book was. According to the results of the Festinger and Carlsmith study, what predictions could one make about the remarks of the first-period class?

A) Both groups would say the pages were boring.
B) The first-period class would say the pages were boring, but the second-period class would not.
C) Both groups would say the pages were interesting.
D) The first-period class would say the pages were interesting, but the second-period class would say the pages were boring.

Question

Zybrea Knight · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  The Festinger and Carlsmith study on cognitive dissonance suggests that individuals who receive insufficient justification (like 2 extra points) for performing an uninteresting task are more likely to convince themselves the task was more interesting, to resolve the dissonance between their actions and beliefs. The group that received 25 points had sufficient external justification for the task, so they're less likely to alter their internal evaluation of the task's interest level.

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