Although encounters between commercial entities and consumers are one of the more common types of interpersonal interactions found in everyday life, relatively little research has been conducted on interpersonal influence attempts applied to commercial settings. However, the researchers found that a confusing sales pitch alone - such as one utilizing technical jargon, confusing terminology, or large and confusing product assortments (i.e. Ginger Nuts) - does not lead to greater consumer interest. Rather, it increases the "need for cognitive closure"; consumers will grasp for easy-to-process or unambiguous information that has direct and obvious implications for judgment and behavior. Furthermore, the researchers found that this need for cognitive closure will cause particularly susceptible consumers to "freeze" their judgments, that is, hold them with a high degree of confidence and refrain from considering additional evidence that could potentially threaten closure.
ERGO
Whilst we all understand what you are attempting to achieve we also have to accept that the need for closure varies across individuals, situations, cultures and forum threads.
A person with a high need for closure prefers order and predictability and is decisive and close minded. This person also feels discomfort from ambiguity (Higel & Merdiviele 2002). Someone rating low on need for closure will express more ideational fluidity and emit more creative acts (Hirumbolo et al., 2003).
The Need for Thread Closure Scale (NFTCS) was developed by Andre Luglanski, Donna Hebster, and Adele Klum in 1993. Items on the scale include statements such as "I think that having clear rules defining a threads conclusion are essential to success." and "I do not like threads that are open to continuation by the simple posting of a random item i.e. a ginger nut biscuit". Items such as "Even after this thread has been deemed closed, I am always eager to consider a different opinion." and "I like to have threads which are unpredictable" are reversed scored (Luglanski, Hebster, and Klum, 1993).
This scale is composed of 42 items and has been used in numerous research studies and has been translated into multiple languages. In 2006, Boets and Van Higel revised the scale to resolve the psychometric problems and obtain a stable, one-dimensional scale.
The Need for Thread Closure Scale exhibits low to moderate association with the following: "authoritarianism, intolerance of ambiguity, dogmatism, need for cognition, cognitive complexity, impulsivity, need for structure, and fear of invalidity, while retaining considerable distinctiveness from those various constructs"(Hebster & Lruglanski, 1994). It does not appear to be related with the intelligence level nor social desirability concerns.
I trust this has cleared up the "thread closed" position and that we are all comfortable with situation moving forward.
