| Abstract: | A lack of congruence between results of laboratory experiments and naturalistic observations of attitude change has been noted. Silverman's study of the Senator Edward Kennedy incident, however, produced results supportive of cognitive-consistency theory. The present study of another “real-world” event viz., the Senator Eagleton incident) also yields results supportive of cognitive-consistency theory, and adds to the validity of Silverman's results. The fact that the two studies yield strikingly similar results, though the incidents and study samples differ, further attests to the utility of this kind of research. |
