Being Snoopy and Smart: The Relationship between Curiosity, Fluid Intelligence, and Knowledge

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Authors
Hartung, Freda-Marie
Thieme, Pia
Wild-Wall, Nele
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2022
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Course of study
Type
01A - Journal article
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Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Journal of Individual Differences
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
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Series
Series number
Volume
43
Issue / Number
4
Pages / Duration
194-205
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Publisher / Publishing institution
Hogrefe
Place of publication / Event location
Edition
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Abstract
Curiosity is a basic driver for learning and development. It has been conceptualized as a desire for new information and knowledge that motivates people to explore their physical and social environment. This raises the question of whether curiosity facilitates the acquisition of knowledge. The present study ( N = 100) assessed epistemic curiosity and general knowledge as well as fluid intelligence (i.e., reasoning ability, processing speed, memory) in a student sample. The results indicate that epistemic curiosity is moderately related to knowledge ( r = .24) and reasoning ability ( r = .30). None of the fluid intelligence measures did moderate the relationship between curiosity and knowledge (interaction terms β < |.08|). Rather, reasoning ability mediated the relationship between epistemic curiosity and general knowledge (indirect effect: β = .10, p < .05). The findings suggest that epistemic curiosity facilitates the acquisition of knowledge by promoting reasoning. One might speculate that epistemically curious individuals enrich their environment, which in turn enhances their cognitive ability.
Keywords
Subject (DDC)
003 - Systeme
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ISBN
ISSN
1614-0001
2151-2299
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Hybrid
License
'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'
Citation
HARTUNG, Freda-Marie, Pia THIEME, Nele WILD-WALL und Benedikt HELL, 2022. Being Snoopy and Smart: The Relationship between Curiosity, Fluid Intelligence, and Knowledge. Journal of Individual Differences. 2022. Bd. 43, Nr. 4, S. 194–205. DOI 10.1027/1614-0001/a000372. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-4761

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