US EPA

3241809 

Journal Article 

Adaptability to changing task contexts: Effects of general cognitive ability conscientiousness, and openness to experience 

Lepine, JA; Colquitt, JA; Erez, A 

2000 

1 

Personnel Psychology
ISSN: 0031-5826 

53 

3 

563-593 

WOS:000089341800002 

We examined the extent to which cognitive ability,
Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience predict decision-making performance prior to and
after unforeseen changes in the task context, Seventy-three undergraduates made decisions on a
series of 75 problems during a 3-hour computerized simulation. Unbeknownst to participants, the
rules used in determining correct decisions changed after problems 25 and 50. Effects of the
individual differences on decision-making performance became significantly stronger after the
changes. Only cognitive ability explained variance in prechange performance. Individuals with
higher cognitive ability made better decisions. After the change, the cognitive ability effect
increased and the effects of Conscientiousness and Openness became statistically significant. As
expected, those with high Openness made better decisions. Unexpectedly, those with low
Conscientiousness made better decisions. Subsequent analyses revealed that this surprising effect
for Conscientiousness was due to the traits reflecting dependability (i.e., order, dutifulness,
deliberation) rather than volition (i.e., competence, achievement striving, self-discipline).