Exposure to others' discrepant curiosity ratings reduces the curiosity gap between opted-out and non-opted-out trials and between incorrect and correct trials, altering metacognitive control¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r1 · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 The interaction between opt-out choice and Experiment (3A vs 3B) was significant: the curiosity difference between opted-out and non-opted-out trials was smaller in 3B than 3A. → Sunae Kim 2025 q3 i2 The interaction between answer accuracy and Experiment was significant: the curiosity gap between incorrect and correct trials was smaller in 3B than 3A. → Sunae Kim 2025 (2)

Evidence¶

Sunae Kim 2025¶

Sunae Kim, Paul L Harris, Benjamin Néher. (2025). Curiosity can influence metacognitive processes. Metacognition and Learning (2025) 20:39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-025-09444-y

q3 · i2 · causal · r1

Direct comparison of Experiments 3A and 3B (each final N = 40; 3B showed manipulated discrepant others' curiosity ratings before the answer decision). Mixed-effects regression found the "interaction between opt-out and Experiment was significant", with β = −0.22; the curiosity discrepancy between opted-out and non-opted-out trials was reduced in 3B; overall curiosity did not differ between experiments (p =.09).

"The interaction between opt-out and Experiment was significant F (1, 3196) = 6.07, p =.01 (b = −5.83, SE = 2.37, β =, − 0.22), confirming our expectation."

Sunae Kim 2025 (2)¶

Sunae Kim, Paul L Harris, Benjamin Néher. (2025). Curiosity can influence metacognitive processes. Metacognition and Learning (2025) 20:39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-025-09444-y

q3 · i2 · causal · r1

In the same 3A-vs-3B comparison, the "interaction between answer accuracy and Experiment was significant" with β = 0.27: the curiosity gap between incorrect and correct trials was reduced in Experiment 3B (Fig. 3, right panel); overall curiosity did not differ between experiments (p =.86).

"The interaction between answer accuracy and Experiment was significant F (1, 3196) = 12.86, p <.001 (b = 6.84, SE = 1.91, β = 0.27), confirming our expectation."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The opt-out and curiosity–accuracy findings replicate in a larger UK sample (Experiment 3A) — related
• Adults report greater curiosity about answers on incorrect-answer trials than on correct-answer trials — related
• Adults opt out of answering more on trials they later answer incorrectly, and curiosity is higher on opted-out trials (metacognitive control) — related