⭐Festinger

Question 1

Possible Questions

Answer 1

Discuss the use of one research method in the study of the individual and the group. (covert naturalistic participant observation)

Question 2

Year

Answer 2

1956

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

To determine how much each member believed in the cult, and to document what actions they had taken for the cult, and what further actions they would take.

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• 2 researchers pretended to join a cult, by pretending they were true believers
• Cult believed that a flood was coming, so that a spacecraft would save them
• Cult located in 2 houses
• Observers attended meetings at the houses, from November 19th to January 7th
• Took notes in the bathroom every 3-4 hours
• Also gained access to cult’s incoming calls

Question 5

Results and Conclusion

Answer 5

When nothing happened the night they were waiting for the spacecraft, they accepted a message from a cult leader sating that their devotion had saved the world and the flood had been called off.

• This was an instance of cognitive dissonance
• They sacrificed so much for the cult, so when the predictions turned out to be false, it led to anxiety
• Justified their behavior by accepting the message they were told to alleviate anxiety and maintain self- esteem

Question 6

Evaluation

Answer 6

Ethics
- Participants deceived
- Participants did not consent
- harm/undue stress caused by book that was published
- No right to withdraw, because they did not know they were being studied

Construct Validity
- no variables clearly defined

Ecological Validity
- Cult is not a common setting

Researcher bias
- Notes were only taken every 3-4 hours, usually from memory