STUDENTS’ DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES, FAMILY OF ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS AND NEED FOR COGNITION SCORES

Abstract

In this research 30 graduate students were asked to complete the Need for Cognition Scale. The individual scores were compared with: (1) school performance and the desire to engage in cognitive activities measured by: grade point average, the last three books read and interest in recent social events; (2) number of members in family of origin—especially the number of siblings—parental educational attainment, perceived cognitive abilities of siblings, rural-urban differences and parental encouragement of education; (3) gender, age and sibling position. A qualitative analysis of students’ subjective perspectives on need for cognition scores was also included. The results of this research show that participants with a higher need for cognition were more likely to have a higher level of school performance and a greater desire to engage in effortful cognitive activities. Participants that had a higher sibling position, parents with a higher level of educational attainment and that came from an urban background scored higher on need for cognition scale. Participants with a lower need for cognition had a larger number of siblings and perceived the cognitive abilities of siblings as higher. Parental encouragement of education, gender and age of participants were unrelated to the need for cognition scores. Key words: cognitive activities, family of origin, need for cognition.