Curiosity in Young Children

Abstract

Investigates curiosity or exploratory activity of children using a novel toy which provided several incentive conditions. It was found that: (a) activity was greatest when the novel stimulus was 1st presented, (b) activity was more vigorous and sustained under complex incentive conditions, (c) emphasis shifted from inquiry to intervention, and (d) boys were more interested in exploring and playing than girls. The curiosity, boredom, and incentive-motivational construct theories were investigated in a test of the hypothesis that provision of visual information would decrease the effective novelty of the toy and hence reduce exploration of it. Results appear to justify the curiosity theory, however, it is concluded that the 'relationship between dependent and independent variables is still insufficiently explained to make the term 'curiosity' much more than a rediscription of the observed phenomena.' (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)