Changes in Dogmatism Scores of High and Low Dogmatics as a Function of Instructions

Abstract

In Exp. I, 184 undergraduates were retested on Rokeach's Dogmatism Scale 10 wk. after the first administration. Half of the Ss were retested under the usual instructions and half were told what the D Scale measures. The informative-instructions group did not decrease more in dogmatism scores than the regular-instructions group. High-D Ss decreased under both instructions and low-D Ss did not change. In Exp. II, 144 undergraduates were retested on the D Scale 10 wk. after the first administration. After being told what the scale measures, half of the Ss were to respond as a very closed-minded person would and half as a very open-minded person would. There was a reliable mean change in the direction of instruction for both groups. Low-D Ss scored more in the instructed direction than high-D Ss only under closed-minded instructions.