Need for Evaluation Scale

What it measures

Measures the stable individual tendency to engage in evaluative responding — to spontaneously and chronically form attitudes toward people, objects, events, and ideas. High NFE individuals evaluate almost everything they encounter, form stronger and more accessible attitudes, and show greater attitude–behaviour consistency. In consumer and advertising research, NFE moderates persuasion: high NFE consumers are more influenced by attitude-congruent advertising, show stronger brand attitude formation, and exhibit higher loyalty based on attitudinal commitment. NFE complements Need for Cognition — high NFE people evaluate more, while high NFC people think more deeply about what they encounter.

Response format

Likert (1–5, extremely uncharacteristic of me to extremely characteristic of me)

Representative items

• I form opinions about everything.
• I prefer to avoid situations where I will be asked my opinion on something. (R)
• It is important to have strong opinions on things.
• I have many more opinions than the average person.
• I am a person who has a strong need to form an opinion about almost everything.

Usage notes & scoring

(R) = reverse-scored. Score = mean. NFE is distinct from attitude strength (an outcome) and from Need for Cognition (motivation to think). High NFE predicts more extreme attitudes, stronger attitude accessibility, and greater attitude-behaviour consistency.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Jarvis, W.B.G., & Petty, R.E. (1996). The need to evaluate. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(1), 172–187.

Keywords