Abstract
People's motivation to engage in cognitive effort is a variable which is relevant in different psychological domains (e.g., social cognition research). Despite its potential benefits, a psychometrically sound state measure of cognitive motivation is still lacking. We therefore developed the 10-item motivation for cognition (MFC) state scale based on the established conceptualization and measure of trait need for cognition (NFC). In two studies, we examined the psychometric properties of the new measure. Study 1 revealed that the MFC scale reliably measures a one-dimensional construct. Moreover, the MFC scale was related to NFC and choice of task effort in an expected manner. In Study 2, relationships with NFC, achievement motives, self-control capacity, subjective vitality, momentary affect, and choice of task effort provide further preliminary support for the MFC scale as being a valid measure of momentary cognitive motivation. We discuss the utility of the new scale in psychological research and practice.
Highlights
How much cognitive effort people tend to invest in processing information has crucial implications for what they achieve, the decisions they make, how they actively search for information in social settings, and even how well they are emotionally adjusted (Preckel et al, 2006; Bertrams and Dickhäuser, 2009, 2012; Fleischhauer et al, 2010; Carnevale et al, 2011; Curseu, 2011; Harman, 2011; Meier et al, 2014)
We determined the number of factors by applying the scree test (Cattell and Vogelmann, 1977) and the minimum average partial (MAP) test (Velicer, 1976)
As the MAP test is superior to the scree test in terms of objectivity and reliability (O’Connor, 2000), we intended to weigh the solution from the MAP test more strongly
Summary
In modern times people must process complex information almost daily. Individuals are required, for example, to resolve mental tasks assigned at work or in academic contexts, to make decisions based on sellers’ or politicians’ claims, or to organize their and their families’ prosperity. How much cognitive effort people tend to invest in processing information has crucial implications for what they achieve, the decisions they make, how they actively search for information in social settings, and even how well they are emotionally adjusted (Preckel et al, 2006; Bertrams and Dickhäuser, 2009, 2012; Fleischhauer et al, 2010; Carnevale et al, 2011; Curseu, 2011; Harman, 2011; Meier et al, 2014). Individual differences in the motivation to expend cognitive effort have been a subject of rigorous psychological research (for a review, see Cacioppo et al, 1996). The present work deals with the measurement of such cognitive motivation. We aim at supplementing the existing measures of respective individual differences with a state measure that is still lacking
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