The effects of test anxiety and task variables on predecisional information search

Abstract

This study examined high and low test anxious subjects' search for information prior to making a decision. Task variables were high and low performance evaluation pressure; high, medium, and low task complexity; and important versus unimportant decisions. In general it was found that high anxious subjects inspected more information, and that more of it was redundant, than did low anxious subjects. The amount of information inspected was influenced by all three task variables in addition to anxiety; task complexity and decision importance, but not evaluation pressure, as well as anxiety influenced the amount of reinspection (redundancy) of information. The implications for future research are discussed in terms of further laboratory studies and of linking laboratory and nonlaboratory studies in which decision making effectiveness plays an important role.