Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

The Emotional Stroop Task: Assessing Cognitive Performance under Exposure to Emotional Content
Published on: June 29, 2016
Motivation to comply with task rules and multitasking performance: The role of need for cognitive closure and goal
Ewa Szumowska1, Małgorzata Kossowska1, Arne Roets2
11Philosophy Department, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena Str. 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
Abstract:
In three studies, we examined the role task rules play in multitasking performance. We postulated that rules should be especially important for individuals highly motivated to have structure and clear answers, i.e., those high on need for cognitive closure (NFC). High NFC should thus be related to greater compliance with task rules. Specifically, given high goal importance, NFC should be more strongly related to a multitasking strategy when multitasking is imposed by the rules, and to a mono-tasking strategy when monotasking is imposed by the rules. This should translate into better multitasking or mono-tasking performance, depending on condition. Overall, the results were supportive as NFC was related to a more mono-tasking strategy in the mono-tasking condition (Studies 1 and 2 only) and more dual-tasking strategy in the dual-tasking condition (Studies 1-3). This translated into respective differences in performance. The effects were significant only when goal importance was high (Study 1) and held when cognitive ability was controlled for (Study 2).
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
Lewis Symbols and the Octet Rule
The Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule

