dr. marcia assigned students a paper in which they had to support the side of a controversial topic they did not agree with. before asking the students to write the paper, she gave them a survey to determine how strongly they disagreed with the topic. after the students wrote their papers, dr. marcia gave them another survey to rate their disagreement with the topic. she observed that the students’ feelings about the topic became more strongly in agreement with the topic. which of the following is the best conclusion?
What is the best conclusion to draw from the scenario described?
Answer:
Based on the scenario described, the best conclusion is that having students argue in favor of a controversial topic they initially disagreed with had an impact on their attitudes towards the topic. This phenomenon is known as the “persuasive argument theory” or “belief adjustment theory.”
When individuals are asked to argue in favor of a position they initially disagree with, they engage in critical thinking and actively search for evidence and arguments to support their assigned position. This process often leads to a reassessment of their initial beliefs and can result in a shift towards the favored position.
In the given scenario, Dr. Marcia assigned students to argue in favor of a controversial topic and assessed their initial levels of disagreement through a survey. After writing the papers supporting the opposite side, she administered another survey to measure their level of disagreement. Dr. Marcia observed that the students’ feelings about the topic became more strongly in agreement with the assigned position.
This change in attitude suggests that engaging in the process of writing the paper and searching for evidence to support the opposing viewpoint influenced the students’ beliefs. It is important to note that this conclusion is based on the specific scenario described and may not necessarily apply to every situation.