In an effort to stimulate and guide research on exploration and play, a brief review and outline of the concepts "exploration" and "play" is presented. A broadly conceived discussion (including various organisms, ages, and disciplines) considers future research direction. It is concluded that exploration and play behaviors lend themselves to simple observations, manipulations, experimental designs, and methods of analysis. Real understanding of these behaviors may be based on consideration of (a) a wider diversity of behavioral manifestations of exploration and play, (b) a multivariate set of determinants, and (c) their association with internal mental and affective states. (31/2 p ref)
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