Involvement and need for cognition as moderators of beliefs—attitude—intention consistency

Moderating effects of involvement and need for cognition in the relationships between beliefs, attitudes and behavioural intentions towards large‐scale use of nuclear energy and large‐scale use of coal in The Netherlands for the production of electricity were investigated in a survey (n = 2439). Using moderated multiple regression analyses, moderating effects of both factors were detected in the attitude—intention relationships for both issues. A moderating role of involvement was also found in beliefs‐attitude relationships. The results indirectly support a previously given explanation of such moderating effects in terms of cognitive effort spent by an individual in forming or changing attitudes. 1989 The British Psychological Society