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Measures/assessments
Likert scales are the most widely used scale for measuring cognitive rigidity.

Personal Need for Structure Scale
The Personal Need for Structure(PNS) questionnaire measures individual preferences for structure and cognitive simplicity. This model uses a 12-item scale that examines the magnitude to which an individual desires structure and avoids ambiguity. High PNS scores are associated with “a tendency to develop mental sets under stressful conditions” and a “greater tendency to stereotype.”

Intolerance for Ambiguity Scale
Intolerance for ambiguity is defined as “the tendency to perceive ambiguous situations as sources of threat.” This scale uses 16-items, measuring individual differences in desire for certainty.

Need for Closure Scale
The Need for Closure Scale uses 42 items to measure differences in tolerance to disorder and chaos, as well as individual desire for structure and order. The scale measures 5 subsets; closed mindedness, decisiveness, preference for structure, discomfort with ambiguity, and decisiveness.

Stroop Test
The Stroop Test measures cognitive function, rigidity and flexibility. The test utilizes 3 different types of cards, a color card, a word card, and a color-word combination card. During the test, the participant is asked to identify the word and color of each card. The color-word card provides a challenge by using the word for a color that is different from the color of the card.

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test evaluates problem-solving and abstract reasoning. During the test, a participant is given cards that have different elements of shapes, colors, and quantities. The participant is then given another set of cards and is asked to match the two sets of cards together. Children can typically complete the task by ages 9-11.

Role in Mental Illness
Rigidity has been shown to play a role in mental illness. Two types of rigidity have been identified in the role of poor mental health; the desire for structure, and the response to lack of structure. Those who have a strong negative response to a lack of structure have been shown to experience higher depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and hopelessness. The desire for structure has not been shown to co-occur with poor mental health. Those who experience poor mental health in response to lack of structure may be more inclined to ruminate in response to the ambiguity that a lack of structure implies.

There is evidence that suggests that those who have higher cognitive rigidity respond less adaptively to stressful life events. Inflexible problem-solving can lead to poor coping abilities, thus increasing likelihood of chronic stress.

Mindfulness
Those who practice mindfulness may have higher cognitive flexibility and lower cognitive rigidity. Meditators have been shown to outperform non-meditators in tasks that measure verbal fluency and visual perspective switching, both of which are related to cognitive rigidity. Meditation practice has also been linked to reduced rumination and repetitive thinking patterns, both of which have been associated with lower cognitive rigidity.