Abstract
The present study tests the proposition that differential paired-associate retention reported by Pallak, Brock, & Kiesler (1967) was mediated by initial re-evaluation of the task of copying paired-associates. All Ss were offered either High Choice (high dissonance) or Low Choice (low dissonance) to perform a dull copying task. Task evaluations were obtained Early (after six trials on the list), After Task (after 21 trials on the list), and After Recall (after the recall test). Incidental paired-associate retention was greater under High Choice than Low Choice, as predicted. Consistent with a dissonance avoidance hypothesis, there was no relationship between incidental retention and task evaluations.
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1. This research was supported by NSF Grant GS-737 to Charles A. Kiesler. Thanks are due to Mr. George Cole and to Dr. William Trinkhaus of Southern Connecticut State College for providing Ss and experimental space. Thanks are also due to Miss Judith Spencer who competently served as the E for this research under the NSF Undergraduate Research Participation Program.
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Pallak, M.S., Kiesler, C.A. Dissonance arousal, task evaluation, and task performance. Psychon Sci 11, 197–198 (1968). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327653
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327653