The team was able to show that individuals with high motivation for effortful cognition actually exert effort more efficiently and regardless of reward. The study thus contributes to a better understanding of person-situation interactions, i.e. how situations and personality influence effortIn psychology, cognitive effort investment is a human trait that describes the tendency to engage in demanding situations. It is considered a sub-component of motivation.
An illustrative example can be generated from the school context: Some students only invest as many resources as necessary in learning to prepare for an exam. Others, however, learn for the joy of the content and with the aim of learning, understanding and solving new problems.