Measurement and Some Correlates of Need-Cognition

A 15-scale true-false questionnaire, the Self-Other Test, Form C, was constructed to measure the dimensions of need-cognition, the need to know and understand. Intercorrelations of the scales showed a degree of overlap among some dimensions of need-cognition. Most of the scales reflecting these dimensions were reliably measured. The Tolerance of Ambiguity Scale, which is included in Form C, correlated positively with the most broadly cognitive scales of the Self-Other Test, Scales I. Vigorous Cathexis for Theories and Relationships, V. Cognitive Bookworm, and A. Proud, Enthusiastic Intellectual Scale. The Ambiguity Scale also correlated negatively with the anti-cognitive scales, Scales VI. Social Anti-intellectualism, and VII. Religious Anti-intellectualism. A Sentence Completion Test of Cognitive Motivation (SCT) was also devised. Positive correlations were found between the SCT and Self-Other Test Scales I, V, and A, and negative correlations between the SCT and Scales VI and VII. When cognitive and noncognitive concepts were rated on a semantic differential by groups of high- and low-cognitive Ss, high-cognitive Ss, identified on the basis of scores on Self-Other Test Scales I, II, and V, consistently gave more favorable ratings on cognitive concepts than low-cognitive Ss. High-cognitive Ss on Scales I and V did not give consistently more favorable ratings on noncognitive concepts. High-cognitive Ss on Scale II. Independent, Self-confident Intellectualism, however, tended to give more favorable ratings to noncognitive concepts than did low-cognitive Ss. This scale might assess an ego-assertive personality variable as well as a cognitive dimension.