Arrange the following events of the Festinger and Carlsmith experiment in the correct order:
(A) Half the students are paid $1 and half $20 to tell waiting students that the experiment was interesting.
(B) Weeks later, the $1 group rates the experiment as more interesting than the $20 group.
(C) A group of students takes part in a very boring experiment.
(D) The $1 students feel cognitive dissonance about the lie they told.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → C, A, D, B
(C) A group of students takes part in a very boring experiment. — First. The study begins with students sitting through a very boring experiment.
(A) Half the students are paid $1 and half $20 to tell waiting students that the experiment was interesting. — Second. They are then asked to tell waiting students it was interesting, and are paid $1 or $20 for this lie.
(D) The $1 students feel cognitive dissonance about the lie they told. — Third. For the $1 group, so small a payment cannot justify the lie, so they feel cognitive dissonance. It arises only after the lie is told.
(B) Weeks later, the $1 group rates the experiment as more interesting than the $20 group. — Fourth. To reduce the dissonance, the $1 group changes its attitude. So weeks later it rates the experiment as more interesting than the $20 group does.
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