Modeling the links between need for cognition and the acquisition of a complex skill

Need for cognition (NFC) refers to the tendency for individuals to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activity (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982). Much of the research on NFC has been concerned with information-processing in situations involving persuasion and argumentation. Despite conceptual underpinnings suggesting NFC could be a potential determinant of complex skill acquisition, little empirical research has examined the role of NFC in training or skill acquisition contexts. Therefore, the purpose of this laboratory study was to test the proposition that NFC is a trait-like motivational construct that distally influences complex skill acquisition through more proximal motivational states. Accordingly, 411 young adult males trained for 5 h on a novel and complex computer task that involved strong cognitive and psychomotor demands. Performance feedback was provided throughout training with monetary incentives for high performance. In addition to NFC, participants completed measures of state goal orientation, self-efficacy, and general cognitive ability (g). The results supported our proposition and showed that NFC was associated with, but distinguishable from g and linked to skill acquisition through the mediating roles of learning orientation and self-efficacy.