Fostering Children’s Early Curiosity, Engagement and Question-Asking Behavior

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Children’s curiosity drives them to learn about the world around them (Jirout & Klahr, 2012), for example by asking questions (Chouinard et al., 2007). This symposium presents data investigating what factors impact children’s curiosity, question-asking behavior, and learning. Paper 1 examines interventions for promoting children’s (4-10 years) question-asking, and analyzes their effects on “global” aspects of curiosity such as the desire for new knowledge, engagement, and learning. Paper 2 explores how parent cell phone use impacts children’s (3.5-5 years) question-asking behavior when engaging in play and found that children asked significantly fewer information-seeking questions when parents used cell phones (compared to a control group). Paper 3 assesses the impact of open-ended and closed-ended questions on Head Start children’s vocabulary growth and found that neither children’s answers to open- or closed-ended questions significantly impacted their receptive or expressive vocabulary, contrary to existing research. Paper 4 investigates adults’ and children’s sensitivity to certain cues (surprise, uncertainty, and expected learning) that may trigger curiosity, and found that whereas children’s curiosity focused on uncertainty, adults’ curiosity tracked expected learning. Together, the research discussed in this symposium highlights various aspects of curiosity and the multitude of approaches possible in describing this complex curiosity construct. Papers 1-3 demonstrate that adults’ engagement/disengagement in a learning task influences children’s question-asking and learning. Paper 4 extends the importance of engagement in curiosity; with curiosity-eliciting cues varying developmentally within the same context. Bringing these papers together highlights the interplay of curiosity, question-asking, engagement, and learning throughout the lifespan.

Sub Unit

• Social Cognition

Chairs

• Sona Kumar, Boston University

• Amanda S Haber, Fairfield University

Individual Presentations

• Promoting Question Asking to Foster Curiosity: An Intervention Study - Presenting Author: Joseph Colantonio, Rutgers University - Newark; Non-Presenting Author: Sophie Sharp, Vassar College; Non-Presenting Author: Allyson P Mackey, University of Pennsylvania; Non-Presenting Author: Elizabeth Bonawitz, Rutgers University - Newark

• Phone or Paper? The Effect of Different Parental Distractions on Parents’ and Children’s Question-Asking - Presenting Author: Caroline Gaudreau, University of Delaware; Non-Presenting Author: Adeola Olowokudejo, Alcorn State University; Non-Presenting Author: Chineme Jane Otuonye; Non-Presenting Author: Calla Pritulsky, University of Delaware; Non-Presenting Author: Kathy A Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University; Non-Presenting Author: Roberta M Golinkoff, University of Delaware

• Raising Questions About Open-Ended Questions and Children’s Vocabulary - Presenting Author: Elias Blinkoff, Temple University; Non-Presenting Author: Hande Ilgaz, Bilkent University; Non-Presenting Author: Lien Vu, University of Delaware; Non-Presenting Author: Kathy A Hirsh-Pasek, Temple University

• Developmental Change in the Triggers of Curiosity - Presenting Author: Emily G Liquin, Princeton University; Non-Presenting Author: Frederick Callaway, Princeton University; Non-Presenting Author: Tania Lombrozo, Princeton University