Adam conducted an experiment to see how people form first impressions of strangers. He approached people in Cambridge and asked them open-ended questions about what they thought his name was, what career he might want as an adult, and what he was like in school. People gave a variety of answers, making judgements based on his appearance and demeanor. Through this experiment, Adam found that people tend to perceive strangers in different, sometimes contradictory, ways based on limited initial interactions and impressions.