Those who wrote on benefits of raising tuition felt more conflicted and uncomfortable and had more positive attitudes towards raising tuition than those who wrote neutral essays. However, those who were told the essay is optional did not show a greater attitude change (🚫induced compliance).

In sum, we found mixed support for cognitive dissonance. While those who wrote counter-attitudinal essays felt more conflicted, these feelings did not mediate the change in attitude. Counter-attitudinal essays led to attitude change, but we failed to replicate the induced compliance paradigm. #psych