scholarly journals Dispositional individual differences in cognitive effort investment: establishing the core construct

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Kührt ◽  
Sebastian Pannasch ◽  
Stefan J. Kiebel ◽  
Alexander Strobel
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Effortful Control ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Effort Discounting ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

Abstract Background Individuals tend to avoid effortful tasks, regardless of whether they are physical or mental in nature. Recent experimental evidence is suggestive of individual differences in the dispositional willingness to invest cognitive effort in goal-directed behavior. The traits need for cognition (NFC) and self-control are related to behavioral measures of cognitive effort discounting and demand avoidance, respectively. Given that these traits are only moderately related, the question arises whether they reflect a common core factor underlying cognitive effort investment. If so, the common core of both traits might be related to behavioral measures of effort discounting in a more systematic fashion. To address this question, we aimed at specifying a core construct of cognitive effort investment that reflects dispositional differences in the willingness and tendency to exert effortful control. Methods We conducted two studies (N = 613 and N = 244) with questionnaires related to cognitive motivation and effort investment including assessment of NFC, intellect, self-control and effortful control. We first calculated Pearson correlations followed by two mediation models regarding intellect and its separate aspects, seek and conquer, as mediators. Next, we performed a confirmatory factor analysis of a hierarchical model of cognitive effort investment as second-order latent variable. First-order latent variables were cognitive motivation reflecting NFC and intellect, and effortful self-control reflecting self-control and effortful control. Finally, we calculated Pearson correlations between factor scores of the latent variables and general self-efficacy as well as traits of the Five Factor Model of Personality for validation purposes. Results Our findings support the hypothesized correlations between the assessed traits, where the relationship of NFC and self-control is specifically mediated via goal-directedness. We established and replicated a hierarchical factor model of cognitive motivation and effortful self-control that explains the shared variance of the first-order factors by a second-order factor of cognitive effort investment. Conclusions Taken together, our results integrate disparate literatures on cognitive motivation and self-control and provide a basis for further experimental research on the role of dispositional individual differences in goal-directed behavior and cost–benefit-models.

scholarly journals Dispositional Individual Differences in Cognitive Effort Investment: Establishing the Core Construct

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Kührt ◽  
Sebastian Pannasch ◽  
Stefan J. Kiebel ◽  
Alexander Strobel
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Common Core ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Core Construct

It is commonly assumed that individuals tend to avoid effort, be it physical or cognitive. Yet, recent evidence suggests that individual differences exist and that personality traits related to the willingness to invest cognitive effort in goal-directed behavior are associated with experimental measures of cognitive effort investment. The personality traits need for cognition (NFC) and self-control were found to be related to behavioral measures of effort discounting and demand avoidance, respectively. Given that NFC and self-control are only moderately related, this evidence raises the question whether these associations are specific for these traits or whether they reflect a common core that these traits both involve cognitive effort investment. If so, the common core of both traits might be related to behavioral measures of the avoidance of cognitive effort in a more systematic fashion. Thus, the present study aimed at specifying a core construct of cognitive effort investment that reflects dispositional differences in the willingness and tendency to exert effortful control. Therefore, we conducted an online-study (N = 613) with questionnaires related to cognitive motivation and effort investment including the NFC and the self-control scale. Our findings support the hypothesized correlations between the assessed traits, where the relationship of NFC and self-control is specifically mediated via an aspect that can be conceptualized as goal-directedness. We found that a hierarchical factor model of cognitive motivation and effortful self-control can explain the shared variance of these two first-order factors by a second-order factor of cognitive effort investment. These findings are backed up by results of an independent second sample (N = 244). Taken together, our results integrate currently only loosely related research strands on cognitive motivation and self-control and provide a basis for further experimental research on the role of dispositional individual differences in goal-directed behavior.

Exploring the Relations Among Executive Functions, Fluid Intelligence, and Personality

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nash Unsworth ◽  
Joshua D. Miller ◽  
Chad E. Lakey ◽  
Diana L. Young ◽  
J. Thadeus Meeks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Unified Field ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

Executive functions (EFs) are important for goal-directed behavior and have been linked with a number of important constructs like intelligence. The current study examined the link between EFs and aspects of normal and abnormal personality. Latent variables of working memory, fluency, response inhibition, and vigilance EFs were examined along with fluid intelligence (gF). It was found that the EFs were separate yet correlated, and that each was related to gF. Furthermore, it was found that aspects of personality as measured by the Five-Factor Model and the BIS/BAS were differentially related to the EFs and gF. Examination of personality disorder measures also demonstrated differential relationships with the EFs and gF. The results suggest a number of systematic and important links between EFs and personality and suggest the need for a more unified field of individual differences.

scholarly journals Dispositional Cognitive Effort Investment and Behavioral Demand Avoidance: Are They Related?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Strobel ◽  
Gesine Wieder ◽  
Philipp C. Paulus ◽  
Florian Ott ◽  
Sebastian Pannasch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Cognitive Demand ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Measurement Occasion ◽  
Trait Variance ◽  
Effort Discounting ◽  
Behavioral Markers

Individuals tend to avoid cognitive demand, yet, individual differences appear to exist. Recent evidence from two studies suggests that individuals high in the personality traits Self-Control and Need for Cognition that are related to the broader construct Cognitive Effort Investment are less prone to avoid cognitive demand and show less effort discounting. These findings suggest that cost-benefit models of decision-making that integrate the costs due to effort should consider individual differences in the willingness to exert mental effort. However, to date, there are almost no replication attempts of the above findings. For the present conceptual replication, we concentrated on the avoidance of cognitive demand and used a longitudinal design and latent state-trait modeling. This approach enabled us to separate the trait-specific variance in our measures of Cognitive Effort Investment and Demand Avoidance that is due to stable, individual differences from the variance that is due to the measurement occasion, the methods used, and measurement error. Doing so allowed us to test the assumption that self-reported Cognitive Effort Investment is related to behavioral Demand Avoidance more directly by relating their trait-like features to each other. In a sample of N = 217 participants, we observed both self-reported Cognitive Effort Investment and behavioral Demand Avoidance to exhibit considerable portions of trait variance. However, these trait variances were not significantly related to each other. Thus, our results call into question previous findings of a relationship between self-reported effort investment and demand avoidance. We suggest that novel paradigms are needed to emulate real-world effortful situations and enable better mapping between self-reported measures and behavioral markers of the willingness to exert cognitive effort.

scholarly journals Genetic and environmental architecture of conscientiousness in adolescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Takahashi ◽  
Anqing Zheng ◽  
Shinji Yamagata ◽  
Juko Ando
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Effortful Control ◽  
Genetic Variance ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Genetic Analyses ◽  
Environmental Correlations ◽  
Per Se

AbstractUsing a genetically informative design (about 2000 twin pairs), we investigated the phenotypic and genetic and environmental architecture of a broad construct of conscientiousness (including conscientiousness per se, effortful control, self-control, and grit). These four different measures were substantially correlated; the coefficients ranged from 0.74 (0.72–0.76) to 0.79 (0.76–0.80). Univariate genetic analyses revealed that individual differences in conscientiousness measures were moderately attributable to additive genetic factors, to an extent ranging from 62 (58–65) to 64% (61–67%); we obtained no evidence that shared environmental influences were observed. Multivariate genetic analyses showed that for the four measures used to assess conscientiousness, genetic correlations were stronger than the corresponding non-shared environmental correlations, and that a latent common factor accounted for over 84% of the genetic variance. Our findings suggest that individual differences in the four measures of conscientiousness are not distinguishable at both the phenotypic and behavioural genetic levels, and that the overlap was substantially attributable to genetic factors.

Issues in the Conceptualization and Assessment of Hot Executive Functions in Childhood

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn Welsh ◽  
Eric Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Effortful Control ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Current State ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Individual

AbstractOur review examines the current state of the research on hot executive function (EF), as contrasted with cool EF, with regard to the evidence for construct validity. Current theoretical discussions have examined the conceptual overlap among constructs such as hot EF, effortful control, self-control, and self-regulation. We explore this emerging literature with a focus on research questions, tasks, and methods. Finally, we consider the unresolved questions facing the study of hot EF, most notably the difficulty in determining the relative “heat” of a given task based on task content, testing context, and the individual differences among the participants. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–5)

scholarly journals Domain-general cognitive motivation: evidence from economic decision-making

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Crawford ◽  
Sarah A. Eisenstein ◽  
Jonathan E. Peelle ◽  
Todd S. Braver
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Speech Comprehension ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
Trait Level

AbstractStable individual differences in cognitive motivation (i.e., the tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activities) have been documented with self-report measures, yet convergent support for a trait-level construct is still lacking. In the present study, we use an innovative decision-making paradigm (COG-ED) to quantify the costs of cognitive effort, a metric of cognitive motivation, across two distinct cognitive domains (working memory and speech comprehension). We hypothesize that cognitive motivation operates similarly within individuals, regardless of domain. Specifically, we test whether individual differences in effort costs are stable across domains, even after controlling for other potential sources of shared individual variation. Conversely, we evaluate whether the costs of cognitive effort across domains may be better explained in terms of other relevant cognitive and personality-related constructs, such as working memory capacity or reward sensitivity.

scholarly journals Measuring Motivation for Cognitive Effort as State

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Blaise ◽  
Tamara Marksteiner ◽  
Ann Krispenz ◽  
Alex Bertrams
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Research ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Cognitive Motivation ◽  
State Measure ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
State Scale ◽  
Preliminary Support

People's motivation to engage in cognitive effort is a variable which is relevant in different psychological domains (e.g., social cognition research). Despite its potential benefits, a psychometrically sound state measure of cognitive motivation is still lacking. We therefore developed the 10-item motivation for cognition (MFC) state scale based on the established conceptualization and measure of trait need for cognition (NFC). In two studies, we examined the psychometric properties of the new measure. Study 1 revealed that the MFC scale reliably measures a one-dimensional construct. Moreover, the MFC scale was related to NFC and choice of task effort in an expected manner. In Study 2, relationships with NFC, achievement motives, self-control capacity, subjective vitality, momentary affect, and choice of task effort provide further preliminary support for the MFC scale as being a valid measure of momentary cognitive motivation. We discuss the utility of the new scale in psychological research and practice.

scholarly journals Too Bored for Sports? Adaptive and less-adaptive latent personality profiles for exercise behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Maik Bieleke ◽  
Johanna Stähler ◽  
Julia Schüler
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Exercise Behavior ◽  
Personality Profiles ◽  
Boredom Proneness ◽  
Latent Profiles ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior

Physical exercise is an effective tool for improving public health, but the general population exercises too little. Drawing on recent theorizing on the combined role of boredom and self-control in guiding goal-directed behavior, we test the hypothesis that individual differences in boredom and self-control differentiate high from low exercisers. The role of boredom as a non-adaptive disposition is of particular interest, because research on boredom in sports is scarce. Here, we investigate the role of such individual differences in self-reported weekly exercise behavior (in minutes) in a sample of N = 507 participants (n = 200 female, Mage = 36.43 (± 9.54)). We used the robust variant of Mahalanobis distance to detect and remove n = 51 multivariate outliers and then performed latent profile analysis to assess if boredom (boredom proneness; exercise-related boredom) and self-control (trait self-control; if-then planning) combine into identifiable latent profiles. In line with theoretical considerations, the Bayesian Information Criterion favored a solution with two latent profiles. One profile was characterized by higher-than-average exercise-related boredom and boredom proneness and lower-than-average self-control and if-then planning values. This pattern was reversed for the second profile. A one-sided Bayesian two-sample t-test supported the hypothesis that the first profile is associated with more exercise behavior than the second profile, BF =16.93. Our results foster the notion of self-control and if-then planning as adaptive dispositions. More importantly, they point to an important role of boredom in the exercise setting: exercise-related boredom and getting easily bored in general are associated with less exercise activity. This is in line with recent theorizing on boredoms’ and self-controls’ function in guiding goal-directed behavior.

scholarly journals Measuring cognitive effort without difficulty

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Fleming ◽  
Oliver Joe Robinson ◽  
Jonathan Paul Roiser
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Need For Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Effort ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Effort Discounting ◽  
Switching Task ◽  
Cognition Scale

An important finding in the cognitive effort literature has been that sensitivity to the costs of effort varies between individuals, suggesting that some people find effort more aversive than others. It has been suggested this may explain individual differences in other aspects of cognition; in particular that greater effort sensitivity may underlie some of the symptoms of conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. In this paper we highlight a major problem with existing measures of cognitive effort that hampers this line of research, specifically the confounding of effort and difficulty. This means that behaviour thought to reveal effort costs could equally be explained by cognitive capacity, which influences the frequency of success and thereby the chance of obtaining reward. To address this shortcoming we introduce a new test, the Number Switching Task (NST), specially designed such that difficulty will be unaffected by the effort manipulation and can easily be standardised across participants. In a large, online sample we show that these criteria are met successfully and reproduce classic effort discounting results with the NST. We also demonstrate the use of computational modelling with this task, producing behavioural parameters which can then be associated with other measures, and report a preliminary association with the Need for Cognition scale.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document