In 1959, Festinger and Carlsmith conducted a classic experiment in which they asked participants to tell a lie (about how interesting a very boring study was). The researchers paid participants either $1 or $20 to tell this lie. The same participants were then asked how interesting they really thought the study was. What did the researchers find?
A)There was no difference between those paid $1 and those paid $20; both said that the (very boring)study was indeed boring.
B)There was no difference between those paid $1 and those paid $20; both said that the (very boring)study was in fact very interesting.
C)Compared to those paid $1, those paid $20 rated the study as much more interesting.
D)Compared to those paid $20, those paid $1 rated the study as much more interesting.

Question

In 1959, Festinger and Carlsmith conducted a classic experiment in which they asked participants to tell a lie (about how interesting a very boring study was). The researchers paid participants either $1 or $20 to tell this lie. The same participants were then asked how interesting they really thought the study was. What did the researchers find? ​
A)There was no difference between those paid $1 and those paid $20; both said that the (very boring)study was indeed boring.
B)There was no difference between those paid $1 and those paid $20; both said that the (very boring)study was in fact very interesting. ​
C)Compared to those paid $1, those paid $20 rated the study as much more interesting. ​
D)Compared to those paid $20, those paid $1 rated the study as much more interesting. ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Participants paid only $1 experienced greater cognitive dissonance and thus were more likely to convince themselves that the study was interesting to justify their action of lying for such a small amount. Those paid $20 had an external justification for their lie, reducing the need to alter their internal beliefs.

In 1959, Festinger and Carlsmith Conducted a Classic Experiment in Which