Effects of Violation-of-Expectation and Anxiety on Curiosity

• In Event: 68.050 - Motivation and Emotion in Achievement Contexts

Abstract

The present research is for investigating the effect of violation-of-expectation (VOE) on curiosity and the moderating role of anxiety in this relationship. It was hypothesized that: (a) VOE would lead to higher degrees of curiosity, and (b) the effect of VOE on curiosity would be weakened by anxiety. A mixed 2 x 2 experimental design was used, with two levels of the within-subject factor (VOE: high vs. low) and two levels of the between-subject factor (anxiety: high vs. low). The result showed a significant main effect of VOE on curiosity and a significant VOE x Anxiety interaction although anxiety did not significantly lower curiosity in high VOE sets. The findings will be discussed.

Authors

• Hyun Ji Lee, The Ohio State University

• Sung-Il Kim, Korea University

• Mimi Bong, Korea University