Assessing the Willingness to Elaborate among Young Students: Psychometric Evaluation of a Swedish Need for Cognition Scale
Open accessAbstract
The personality trait Need for Cognition (NFC) has been studied for many years, and found to be important for individuals’ educational achievement. The original NFC-scale was developed in the eighties, and during the following decade the scale was translated and adapted into a number of other languages. A renewed interest for the personality trait of NFC has made these scales interesting to use. It is though vital that instruments used for studies of individual differences in the area of educational research, or in any other area, can portray valid results today. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate validity and reliability of the short version of the Mental Effort Tolerance Questionnaire, a Swedish adaption of the NFC-scale made in 1991, which has not been previously evaluated. This study involved 420 young students, and the evaluation of reliability includes a study of temporal stability (test-retest), as well as internal stability. Further, the evaluation of validity includes construct and criterion validity. Regarding reliability, the results showed a test-retest reliability coefficient of .88 (n = 108), and an internal stability (Cronbach’s alpha) of .88 (n = 420). Evaluation of construct validity found evidence for a five factor dimensional structure (n = 420), discriminant validity to measures of general intelligence (r = .25; n = 122), working memory (r = .22; n =164), and the personality trait Grit (r = .26; n = 169). Finally, criterion validity was found for grades (r =.35; n =125). Overall, the results of the evaluation show that the inferences made from the results of the short version of the Swedish NFC-scale exhibits satisfactory reliability and validity, suggesting that the questionnaire can be used in educational contexts. The questionnaire might, however, benefit from being even more shortened.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The Swedish METQ measure of NFC had good internal consistency in this study (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87).
“In line with psychometric studies on the Swedish version of METQ, the internal consistency in this study was good, Chronbach’s α = 0.87 (see Stenlund and Jonsson, 2017 for psychometric evaluation of the Swedish version of METQ).”
From Retrieval Practice Is Effective Regardless of Self-Reported Need for Cognition - Behavioral and Brain Imaging Evidence (2022) · cites this paper as Stenlund and Jonsson, 2017
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999) · Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.1080/10705519909540118 · Cited by 108,788 · see citing works
(2017) · Cited by 16,319 · see citing works
Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. (2005) · University of Massachusetts Amherst · doi:10.7275/jyj1-4868 · Cited by 10,297 · see citing works
Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087 · Cited by 6,911 · see citing works
Cacioppo, J. T., & Petty, R. E. (1982) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.42.1.116 · Cited by 5,359 · see citing works
O’connor, B. P. (2000) · Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers · doi:10.3758/bf03200807 · Cited by 4,116 · see citing works
Richardson, M., Abraham, C., & Bond, R. (2012) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0026838 · Cited by 3,646 · see citing works
Development and validation of the short grit scale (grit-s)
Duckworth, A. L., & Quinn, P. D. (2009) · Journal of Personality Assessment · doi:10.1080/00223890802634290 · Cited by 3,376 · see citing works
The Efficient Assessment of Need for Cognition
Cacioppo, J. T., Petty, R. E., & Feng Kao, C. (1984) · Journal of Personality Assessment · doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa4803_13 · Cited by 2,913 · see citing works
Cacioppo, J. T., Petty, R. E., Feinstein, J. A., & Jarvis, W. B. G. (1996) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.197 · Cited by 2,517 · cited 7× · see citing works
“org February 2017 | Volume 2 | Article 2 also find this process more enjoyable when compared to those with low scores on the NFC-scale (Cacioppo and Petty, 1982; Cacioppo et al., 1996).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialAn automated version of the operation span task
Unsworth, N., Heitz, R. P., Schrock, J. C., & Engle, R. W. (2005) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/bf03192720 · Cited by 1,861 · see citing works
An experimental investigation of need for cognition.
Cohen, A. R., Stotland, E., & Wolfe, D. M. (1955) · The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0042761 · Cited by 573 · see citing works
EFFECTS OF INTERACTIVITY IN A WEB SITE: The Moderating Effect of Need for Cognition
Piñero, M. S., de Maya, S. R., & Munuera, J. L. (2005) · Journal of Advertising · doi:10.1080/00913367.2005.10639202 · Cited by 388 · see citing works
Differentiating between cognitive and sensory innovativeness
Venkatraman, M. P., & Price, L. L. (1990) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/0148-2963(90)90008-2 · Cited by 367 · see citing works
Same or Different? Clarifying the Relationship of Need for Cognition to Personality and Intelligence
Fleischhauer, M., Enge, S., Brocke, B., Ullrich, J., Strobel, A., & Strobel, A. (2009) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167209351886 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Investment and intellect: A review and meta-analysis.
von Stumm, S., & Ackerman, P. L. (2013) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0030746 · Cited by 321 · see citing works
Need for cognition and external information search effort
Verplanken, B., Hazenberg, P. T., & Palenéwen, G. R. (1992) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/0092-6566(92)90049-a · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Bråten, I., Anmarkrud, Ø., Brandmo, C., & Strømsø, H. I. (2013) · Learning and Instruction · doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2013.11.002 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Hill, B. D., Foster, J. D., Elliott, E. M., Shelton, J. T., McCain, J., & Gouvier, W. D. (2012) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2012.11.001 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Dimensions of the Need for Cognition: Subscales and Gender Differences
Tanaka, J. S., Panter, A. T., & Winborne, W. C. (1988) · Multivariate Behavioral Research · doi:10.1207/s15327906mbr2301_2 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
The role of need for cognition and reader beliefs in text comprehension and interest development
Dai, D. Y., & Wang, X. (2006) · Contemporary Educational Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.cedpsych.2006.05.002 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Tolerance for mental effort: self-ratings related to perception, performance and personality.
Dornic, S., Ekehammar, B., & Laaksonen, T. (1991) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/0191-8869(91)90118-u · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Need for cognition: eine Skala zur Erfassung von Engagement und Freude bei Denkaufgaben
Bless, H., Fellhauer, R. F., Bohner, G., & Schwarz, N. (1991) · Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences) · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Luong, C., Strobel, A., Wollschläger, R., Greiff, S., Vainikainen, M.-P., & Preckel, F. (2017) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2016.10.019 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Motivational characteristics of students in gifted classes: The pivotal role of need for cognition
Meier, E., Vogl, K., & Preckel, F. (2014) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2014.04.006 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
INTERNAL CONSISTENCY AND TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF THE NEED FOR COGNITION SCALE
Sadowski, C. J., & Gülgöz, S. (1992) · Perceptual and Motor Skills · doi:10.2466/pms.1992.74.2.610 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Stenlund, T., Jönsson, F. U., & Jonsson, B. (2016) · Educational Psychology · doi:10.1080/01443410.2016.1143087 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Self-citationAn Examination of the Short form of the Need for Cognition Scale Applied in an Australian Sample
ForsterLee, R., & Ho, R. T. K. (1999) · Educational and Psychological Measurement · doi:10.1177/00131649921969983 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Assessing Need for Cognition in Early Adolescence
Preckel, F. (2013) · European Journal of Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000170 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Some Effects of the Need for Cognition on Course Grades
Leone, C. T., & Dalton, C. H. (1988) · Perceptual and Motor Skills · doi:10.2466/pms.1988.67.1.175 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Need for cognition and active information search in small student groups
Curșeu, P. L. (2011) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2011.02.005 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Hill, B. D., Foster, J. D., Sofko, C. A., Elliott, E. M., & Shelton, J. T. (2016) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.043 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Correlates of Need for Cognition Total and Subscale Scores
Waters, L. K., & Zakrajsek, T. D. (1990) · Educational and Psychological Measurement · doi:10.1177/0013164490501026 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Dynamics of personality organization. I.
Maslow, A. H. (1943) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/h0062222 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Fleischhauer, M., Strobel, A., & Strobel, A. (2015) · Journal of Individual Differences · doi:10.1027/1614-0001/a000161 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
University and School Students’ Motivation for Effortful Thinking
Bertrams, A., & Dickhäuser, O. (2010) · European Journal of Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1027/1015-5759/a000035 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Raven, J. C. (1990). Advanced Progressive Matrices: Sets I, II. Oxford: Oxford Univ Press.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Creative Mathematical Reasoning: Does Need for Cognition Matter?
Jonsson, B., Mossegård, J., Lithner, J., & Wirebring, L. K. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.797807 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Testing Effect and Its Relation to Working Memory Capacity and Personality Characteristics
Bertilsson, F., Wiklund‐Hörnqvist, C., Stenlund, T., & Jonsson, B. (2017) · Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology · doi:10.1891/1945-8959.16.3.241 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationŚleboda, P., & Lagerkvist, C. J. (2021) · Food Quality and Preference · doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2021.104419 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Lavrijsen, J., Preckel, F., & Verschueren, K. (2023) · Learning and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.lindif.2023.102363 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Wiklund-Hörnqvist, C., Stillesjö, S., Andersson, M., Jonsson, B., & Nyberg, L. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.797395 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationFellman, D., Lincke, A., & Jonsson, B. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02076 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationSleboda, P., & Lagerkvist, C. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0255569 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Bertilsson, F., Stenlund, T., Sundström, A. E., & Jonsson, B. (2024) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/s10212-024-00845-2 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationSaili, J., & Taat, M. S. (2023) · International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development · doi:10.6007/ijarped/v12-i4/20311 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Cognitive and Affective Factors in Relation to Learning
(2022) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-83250-498-7 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Stenlund, T., & Jonsson, B.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Stenlund, Tova
- Venue
- Frontiers in Education
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2017-02-13
- Volume
- 2
- ISSN
- 2504-284X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2586346278
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Frontiers in Education (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DiVA at Umeå University (Umeå University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Vetenskapsrådet (721-2014-2099)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- need for cognition, Need for Cognition Scale, Swedish adaptation, psychometric validation, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, student grades, younger schoolchildren, personality traits, academic performance
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
