Transportation, need for cognition, and affective disposition as factors in enjoyment of film narratives

This article proposes and empirically tests a theoretical model in which need for cognition and affective disposition influence viewers’ transportation (absorption in a narrative) which in turn influences enjoyment of the narrative. Using two re-edited versions of the feature film Memento (Nolan, 2000) and the original film as treatments intended to produce varying levels of cognitive challenge, the researchers conducted an experiment with 91 participants. Structural equation modeling analysis results strongly support the model overall; strongly support need for cognition and affective disposition as significant influences on transportation; and strongly support for transportation influencing enjoyment. No significant support was found for the proposed moderating influence of cognitive challenge presented by the narrative on need for cognition or for cognitive challenge as a main influence on transportation.