Need for cognition moderates negative evaluation of task switching: evidence from two behavioral experiments among young adults.

Task switching occurs frequently in daily life. The objective costs of task switching, typically demonstrated as performance deficit, are well-established. However, the subjective evaluation of task switching remains less well understood. The study delves into the negative evaluation of task switching and the moderating role of Need for Cognition (NFC). Previous studies have focused on the repetition bias phenomenon in task switching but have not sufficiently explored the affective evaluation of it and individual differences. Two experiments (Experiment 1: N = 86; Experiment 2: N = 82) were conducted employing a Cued Task Switching paradigm and an Affective Misattribution Paradigm, where neutral stimuli were associated with switching or repetition behaviors via explicit (Experiment 1) and implicit (Experiment 2) procedures, respectively. As hypothesized, linear mixed-effects models revealed a negative evaluative bias toward switch responses (only significant in Experiment 2, p < .001). However, this bias was not predicted by objective switch costs. Crucially, a significant interaction between NFC and trial transition (ps < 0.001) confirmed that higher NFC scores predicted a weaker negative evaluation bias. These findings suggest that the aversion to task switching is not solely an output of objective switch costs but might be shaped by subjective appraisals and be modulated by individual differences. This insight sheds light on why individuals differ in their tolerance for multitasking and highlights NFC as a key factor in determining affective experiences during cognitive control, with implications for designing adaptive work and learning environments.