Predicting Student's Need For Cognition Based on Personality Characteristics and Epistemological Beliefs

The aim of the present study was to predict university students’ need for cognition based on their personality characteristics and epistemological beliefs. The sample consisted of 200 male students from Farhangian University in Shiraz (2013-2014); Who selected randomly through cluster sampling. They were asked to complete the Questionnaire of need for cognition (Cacioppo, Petty & Kao, 1984), the Big Five Personality Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1999) and the Epistemological Beliefs Inventory (Schommer, 1998). The results of this study indicated openness to experience as the best reverse predictor, and neuroticism as the best direct predictor of need for cognition. The results also revealed that among epistemological beliefs, quick learning, fixed (innate) ability and simple knowledge significantly were reverse predictors of need for cognition. Because of limited research in domain of need for cognition, we suggested to study other variables predict the need for cognition. Result of this research is expected to give the worthwhile information in the field of the need for cognition.