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New paradigm measuring exploratory curiosity in preschool children as threshold of desired uncertainty

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Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 review), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

A behavioral assessment paradigm developed by Jirout et al. to measure preschool children's exploratory curiosity by observing their preference for information under varying levels of uncertainty.

Components

  • Loewenstein's information-gap theory of curiosity as a framework for measuring children's exploratory curiosity: The information-gap theory holds that curiosity arises from feelings of deprivation that are aversive and motivate information-seeking to reduce them. The review adopts it as the conceptual framework for evaluating procedures for measuring children's exploratory curiosity, defining curiosity as "the threshold of desired uncertainty in the environment that leads to exploratory behavior." The authors extend it to young children as a stable uncertainty preference. (Jirout et al. (2011))

Claims

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Key Sources

  • Jirout, J. & Klahr, D. (2011). Children's scientific curiosity: In search of an operational definition of an elusive concept. Developmental Review (in press, draft). https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/developmental-review
Page metadata
Field Value
type product
id new-paradigm-measuring-exploratory-curiosity-in-preschool-children-as-threshold-of-desired
title New paradigm measuring exploratory curiosity in preschool children as threshold of desired uncertainty
description A behavioral assessment paradigm developed by Jirout et al.
status review
product_kind assessment
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-17
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