Leon Festinger 1957 CD

Method

in lab performed dull tasks

paid either $1 or $20 to tell waiting participant that tasks were interesting

Aim 1

investigate if person induced to say something against opinion what is the tendency for them to change their opinion

Aim 2

the greater the pressure to elicit observable behaviour the weaker the tendency to change opinion

Results

participants paid $1 rated task more fun an enjoyable than those paid $20

Results $1

believed the task was dull and $1 actions said it was enjoyable

money wasn’t enough justification to reduce dissonance so their attitude changed to believe it was enjoyable

Results $20

the money was enough justification/reason to lie

rationalised their behaviour to attribute to reward

Strengths

well controlled variables - establish cause and effect relationship

control condition increase confidencel

limitaitons

pop validity - make undergrads

historical val