Need for cognition and active information search in small student groups

In a sample of 213 students organized in 44 groups this study tests the impact of need for cognition on active information search by using a multilevel analysis. The results show that group members with high need for cognition seek more advice in task related issues than those with low need for cognition and this pattern of information exchange is stronger for different gender social interaction than with the same gender social interaction.

Research Highlights► Need for cognition (NFC) is predictive of advice seeking in small groups. ► The effects are stronger for different rather than same gender advice seeking. ► NFC is predictive of group formation in collaborative learning (emergent finding).