66.051 - Curiosity and Interest: Clarifying the Relationship

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This interactive panel symposium will address the relationship of curiosity and interest, motivational variables associated with distinct literatures. Although, both variables involve information seeking behavior, the relationship between them has been widely debated. Some researchers argue that they conceptually indistinguishable, others point to several characteristics on the basis of which they should be considered distinct. Such characteristics include their knowledge and affective components (emotional valence), and the type of information search elicited. Resolution of the debate appears to be complicated by measurement issues related to self-reports and item validities. It is suggested that neuroscientific research addressing brain activation may be uniquely positioned to clarify the relation. The potential universal educational benefits of such resolution will also be discussed.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Motivation in Education

Chair

• K. Ann Renninger, Swarthmore College

Papers

• Exploring the Boundaries of Curiosity and Interest - Emily Grossnickle Peterson; Patricia A. Alexander, University of Maryland - College Park

• Situational Interest and Epistemic Curiosity: Identical Twins or Distant Cousins? - Henk G. Schmidt, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Jerome I. Rotgans, Nanyang Technological University

• Experiences and Expressions of Epistemic Curiosity: Taking Interest in and Feeling Deprived of New Knowledge - Jordan Aries Litman, University of Maine at Machias

• From Curiosity to Interest: How Do They Differ and How Do They Relate? - Dajung Diane Shin, Korea University; Sung-Il Kim, Korea University

• Neuroscience and the Curiosity/Interest Debate - Suzanne E. Hidi, University of Toronto

Discussant

• K. Ann Renninger, Swarthmore College