A demonstration of belief perseverance for hypothetical social theories

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dc.contributor.advisorAnderson, Craig A.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHowell, William C.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWatkins, Michael J.en_US
dc.creatorSechler, Elizabeth S.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-18T21:32:13Zen_US
dc.date.available2018-12-18T21:32:13Zen_US
dc.date.issued1984en_US
dc.description.abstractTwo groups of subjects were induced to form opposing beliefs about the relationship between two social variables, preference for risk and performance in firefighter jobs. Specifically, one group created a causal explanation for a positive relationship (high risk preference related to high performance and low risk preference related to low performance), whereas the other created an explanation for the opposite, negative relationship. Subsequent assessment of subjects' own beliefs revealed a tendency to believe in whichever relationship they had explained. Both groups then examined and evaluated inconclusive "case histories" (half supporting a positive relationship and half supporting a negative relationship). A new assessment of subjects' beliefs showed that this new evidence had little if any effect; subjects' evaluations of the new evidence gave no indication that the groups had evaluated the evidence differently. Why beliefs that are newly formed, and based on no valid evidence survive non-supportive evidence is unclear, but a few ideas are briefly discussed and possible directions for future research are proposed.en_US
dc.format.digitalOriginreformatted digitalen_US
dc.format.extent56 ppen_US
dc.identifier.callnoThesis Psych. 1984 Sechleren_US
dc.identifier.citationSechler, Elizabeth S.. "A demonstration of belief perseverance for hypothetical social theories." (1984) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104810">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/104810</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.digitalRICE2449en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/104810en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.titleA demonstration of belief perseverance for hypothetical social theoriesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPsychologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US
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