Distinct Antecedents and Outcomes for Curiosity Versus Situational Interest

• In Event: Motivation and Cognition in Learning and Instruction

Abstract

Despite an ongoing controversy over the distinction between curiosity and situational interest, empirical evidence that contrasted the two is noticeably lacking. Here, we addressed this gap by disentangling antecedents and outcomes of curiosity and situational interest. We assessed antecedents (enjoyment, novelty, uncertainty, violation of expectation [VOE]) and outcomes (information seeking, individual interest, career intention, achievement) of curiosity and situational interest from 219 sixth graders in the domain of science. Of the antecedents, enjoyment best predicted situational interest; novelty best predicted curiosity. VOE emerged as a unique source of curiosity. Whereas situational interest was only related to individual interest, curiosity was related to all measured outcomes. Curiosity played a significant mediating role between affective antecedents and learning outcomes in science.

Authors

• Dajung Diane Shin, Korea University

• Minhye Lee, Daegu National University of Education

• Yoonah Park, bMRI/Korea University

• Sung-il Kim, Korea University

• Mimi Bong, Korea University