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The curiosity and exploration inventory-II: Development, factor structure, and psychometrics

The curiosity and exploration inventory-II: Development, factor structure, and psychometrics

Authors :
Kashdan, Todd B.
Gallagher, Matthew W.
Silvia, Paul J.
Winterstein, Beate P.
Breen, William E.
Terhar, Daniel
Steger, Michael F.
Source :
Journal of Research in Personality. Dec2009, Vol. 43 Issue 6, p987-998. 12p.
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

Abstract: Given curiosity’s fundamental role in motivation, learning, and well-being, we sought to refine the measurement of trait curiosity with an improved version of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI; [Kashdan, T. B., Rose, P., & Fincham, F. D. (2004). Curiosity and exploration: Facilitating positive subjective experiences and personal growth opportunities. Journal of Personality Assessment, 82, 291–305]). A preliminary pool of 36 items was administered to 311 undergraduate students, who also completed measures of emotion, emotion regulation, personality, and well-being. Factor analyses indicated a two-factor model—motivation to seek out knowledge and new experiences (Stretching; five items) and a willingness to embrace the novel, uncertain, and unpredictable nature of everyday life (Embracing; five items). In two additional samples (ns=150 and 119), we cross-validated this factor structure and provided initial evidence for construct validity. This includes positive correlations with personal growth, openness to experience, autonomy, purpose in life, self-acceptance, psychological flexibility, positive affect, and positive social relations, among others. Applying item response theory (IRT) to these samples (n =578), we showed that the items have good discrimination and a desirable breadth of difficulty. The item information functions and test information function were centered near zero, indicating that the scale assesses the mid-range of the latent curiosity trait most reliably. The findings thus far provide good evidence for the psychometric properties of the 10-item CEI-II. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00926566
Volume :
43
Issue :
6
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Research in Personality
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
44836735
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2009.04.011