Effects of Ambiguity and Need for Closure on the Acquisition of Information

The present research explores the effects of ambiguity and need for cognitive closure on the acquisition of information. Experiments 1 through 3 used various operationalizations of ambiguity. It was shown that ambiguity leads to more informed and slower decision making, but high levels of need for closure impeded this tendency to consult more information. However, Experiment 4 revealed that need for closure intensified the ambiguity effect at some time later in the judgmental process. The role of ambiguity and the operation of pre- and postcrystallization processes are discussed within the theoretical framework of need for closure theory.