Abstract
This research explores the hypothesis that the relationship between need for cognitive structure (NCS) and the use of cognitive biases is moderated by the perceived ability to achieve cognitive structure (AACS). NCS is defined as the extent of preference to use cognitive structuring vs. piecemeal processing as a means to achieve certainty. AACS refers to the extent to which individuals believe that they are able to use information processing processes (cognitive structuring or piecemeal) that are consistent with their level of NCS. To examine this hypothesis, Study 1 explored the effect of the NCS by AACS interaction on the use of confirmation bias. Study 2, demonstrated this effect on the use of framing heuristic. The results of the two studies confirm the hypothesis.
Highlights
The idea that human information processing can be characterized by shortcuts which, normally efficient and powerful, may lead to biases or errors that systematically deviate from some accepted norm or standard, dominates the study of cognitive and social psychology in the last two decades
This research explores the hypothesis that the relationship between need for cognitive structure (NCS) and the use of cognitive biases is moderated by the perceived ability to achieve cognitive structure (AACS)
Since our main hypothesis relates to the moderating effect of the AACS × NCS interaction on confirmation bias, it is necessary first of all to establish the existence of confirmation bias
Summary
The idea that human information processing can be characterized by shortcuts which, normally efficient and powerful, may lead to biases or errors that systematically deviate from some accepted norm or standard, dominates the study of cognitive and social psychology in the last two decades. Inherent in the explanations of these phenomena is the idea that such shortcuts serve as general simplifying strategies for complex cognitive tasks and enable people to make inferences from and predictions on the basis of such scanty and unreliable data as are available These cognitive biases are often said to originate in the limitations of otherwise reasonable informationprocessors. The present paper centers on the need for cognitive structure (NCS) as the motivation force that may explain the occurrence of these cognitive shortcuts
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