doiSerbia

The convergent and discriminant validity of the need for cognition

Trogrlić Aleksandra (Odsek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet, Novi Sad)
Vasić Aleksandar (Fakultet za pravne i poslovne studije, Novi Sad)

The Serbian version of the short form of the Need for Cognition Scale (NCS - Cacciopo et al., 1984) showed acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. In accordance with previous findings, the need for cognition is gender-independent and age-dependent construct. Correlations of the need for cognition with personality traits and intelligence are also in accordance with previous findings. Concerning the personality traits, the most salient correlates are authoritarianism, extraversion, Big Five openness to experience and neuroticism. There is, also, a marginally significant relationship between the need for cognition and conscientiousness. On the level of narrow cognitive abilities, the need for cognition is significantly associated with dimensions of serial and parallel processing. The g-factor has the same effect as the narrower aspects of cognitive functioning.

Keywords: need for cognition, gender, age, personality, intelligence