Citation

Knobloch-Westerwick S, Keplinger C. J. Media Psychol. 2008; 20(3): 117-128.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American Psychological Association, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/1864-1105.20.3.117

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This experiment investigated how complexity of the presented clues and need-for-cognition affect crime fiction enjoyment. A short murder story, divided into four segments, was presented to 154 participants. Complexity was manipulated as three-step factor through combinations of clues hinting toward either suspect A or B in the first three segments, while the last segment revealed the culprit. Readers indicated suspicions and enjoyment after each segment. Finally, respondents reported overall enjoyment and affective responses before completing the need-for-cognition scale. Results for enjoyment of the entire mystery and during reception show that higher complexity was generally enjoyed less. Furthermore, need-for-cognition affected enjoyment in curvilinear fashion overall, with medium need-for-cognition resulting in greater enjoyment. Respondents with high need-for-cognition were an exception in that they enjoyed medium complexity during mystery exposure the most.