Ethical Dilemma In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance theory, Festinge

Question

Ethical Dilemma

In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance theory, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) had participants engage in an extremely boring task. After doing this task, participants were asked if they would help out in the experiment with the next participant, because the regular assistant did not show up. Each accomplice–participant was asked to tell the next participant that the task was really interesting and exciting. For telling this little white lie, the accomplice–participant was promised payment of either $1 or $20, depending on the assigned condition. The experiment was actually designed to see if the amount of money promised affected the accomplice–participant’s attitude toward the boring task. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to return the money.

1. Describe one ethical issue that could be raised concerning the dilemma? 2. How could the ethical issue you’ve identified be remedied? That is, what steps could a researcher take to ensure that the subjects are treated ethically? 3. What impact would any remedies for this ethical issues have on the internal and external validity of the results for your example?
Ethical Dilemma

In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance theory, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) had participants engage in an extremely boring task. After doing this task, participants were asked if they would help out in the experiment with the next participant, because the regular assistant did not show up. Each accomplice–participant was asked to tell the next participant that the task was really interesting and exciting. For telling this little white lie, the accomplice–participant was promised payment of either $1 or $20, depending on the assigned condition. The experiment was actually designed to see if the amount of money promised affected the accomplice–participant’s attitude toward the boring task. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to return the money.

1. Describe one ethical issue that could be raised concerning the dilemma? 2. How could the ethical issue you’ve identified be remedied? That is, what steps could a researcher take to ensure that the subjects are treated ethically? 3. What impact would any remedies for this ethical issues have on the internal and external validity of the results for your example?



In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance theory, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) had participants engage in an extremely boring task. After doing this task, participants were asked if they would help out in the experiment with the next participant, because the regular assistant did not show up. Each accomplice–participant was asked to tell the next participant that the task was really interesting and exciting. For telling this little white lie, the accomplice–participant was promised payment of either $1 or $20, depending on the assigned condition. The experiment was actually designed to see if the amount of money promised affected the accomplice–participant’s attitude toward the boring task. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to return the money.

1. Describe one ethical issue that could be raised concerning the dilemma? 2. How could the ethical issue you’ve identified be remedied? That is, what steps could a researcher take to ensure that the subjects are treated ethically? 3. What impact would any remedies for this ethical issues have on the internal and external validity of the results for your example?

In a classic experiment on cognitive dissonance theory, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) had participants engage in an extremely boring task. After doing this task, participants were asked if they would help out in the experiment with the next participant, because the regular assistant did not show up. Each accomplice–participant was asked to tell the next participant that the task was really interesting and exciting. For telling this little white lie, the accomplice–participant was promised payment of either $1 or $20, depending on the assigned condition. The experiment was actually designed to see if the amount of money promised affected the accomplice–participant’s attitude toward the boring task. At the end of the experiment, participants were asked to return the money.

1. Describe one ethical issue that could be raised concerning the dilemma? 2. How could the ethical issue you’ve identified be remedied? That is, what steps could a researcher take to ensure that the subjects are treated ethically? 3. What impact would any remedies for this ethical issues have on the internal and external validity of the results for your example?

Explanation / Answer

Participant was promised payment of either $1 or $20 but at the end of the experiment they were asked to return the money.It can be an ethical issue that could be raised concerning the dilemma.

The ethical issues can be remedied if the money was given to them.The experimenter could tell them to give any small reward which may be convenient to him.

Here the researcher wanted to see the effect of reward(money).If the reward was different then there may be no issues with internal and external validity of the result.

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