In a study, volunteers finish a dull data-entry task. They are then a…

In a study, volunteers finish a dull data-entry task. They are then asked to tell newcomers waiting outside that the task was enjoyable. Group X is paid Rs. 50 for saying this, and Group Y is paid Rs. 1,000. Some weeks later, both groups are asked how interesting they found the task. Which of the following outcomes is expected?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Group X rates the task as more interesting than Group Y does, as Group X experiences cognitive dissonance

Option (1) Group X rates the task as more interesting than Group Y does, as Group X experiences cognitive dissonance — Correct. Saying a dull task was enjoyable for only Rs. 50 clashes with the thought 'the task was boring'. This clash between two thoughts is cognitive dissonance. The small payment cannot explain the lie, so Group X changes its attitude and comes to see the task as interesting.

Option (2) Group Y rates the task as more interesting than Group X does, as Group Y experiences cognitive dissonance — Incorrect. Rs. 1,000 is a good enough reason for telling the lie, so Group Y feels no dissonance. With no clash to remove, its members keep their view that the task was boring.

Option (3) Group X rates the task as more boring than Group Y does, as Group X experiences cognitive dissonance — Incorrect. The direction is reversed. To reduce the clash, Group X moves its thought towards 'the task was actually interesting'.

Option (4) Both groups rate the task as equally interesting, as both groups experience cognitive dissonance — Incorrect. Only the poorly paid group feels dissonance. Group Y has an outside reason for the lie (the money), so its attitude does not change and the two groups do not rate the task alike.

NCERT (2026-27): “Factors that Influence Attitude Change …
After participating in a very boring experiment, a group of students were asked to tell another group of students waiting outside that the experiment was very interesting. For telling this lie to the waiting students, half of the first group of students was paid $ 1, and the other half were paid $ 20. After some weeks, the participants of the boring experiment were asked to recall the experiment, and to say how interesting they had found that experiment to be. The responses showed that the $ 1 group described the experiment as more interesting than the $ 20 group. The explanation was : the $ 1 students changed their attitude towards the experiment because they experienced cognitive dissonance.”

“The $ 20 group did not experience cognitive dissonance. So, they did not change their attitude towards the experiment, and rated it as very boring. …”

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Group X rates the task as more interesting than Group Y does, as Group X experiences cognitive dissonance

“The $ 20 group did not experience cognitive dissonance. So, they did not change their attitude towards the experiment, and rated it as very boring. …”