How curiosity and uncertainty shape children’s information seeking behaviors

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether children adopt a survey or a route approach when seeking information in a virtual world (VW), and whether their approach differs depending on whether they are experiencing positive or negative motivation. Different models were used based on disparate spatial recognition and conceptual abilities. Design/methodology/approach In total, 127 children operated a three-dimensional VW interface then they filled out a questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze weighted relationships among latent variables. Motivation (positive vs negative), information-seeking model (heuristic survey or detailed route) and the spatial markers, and complexity of patterns of the VW were examined. Findings The authors discovered that a highly motivated child tends to take a central route in the process of information seeking, whereas a child experiencing negative emotions and uncertainty prefers a survey approach using spatial markers to obtain information. In short, the type of motivation influences whether children adopt a heuristic or detailed perspective when searching for information on virtual interfaces. Originality/value It is believed that users combine perceptual activities (low-level cognition) with conceptual activities (high-level cognition) in order to save energy. Yet this study is the first to investigate the conditions under which children are prone to utilize spatial markers (based on visual working memory) or the sequencing of patterns (based on verbal working memory) to find information in a heuristic or detailed fashion. This study provides a fresh perspective regarding perceptual and conceptual integration for information visualization technology.

The beneficial role of curiosity on route memory in children

“…As suggested by past work, we predicted that an optimal level of uncertainty regarding the presence of cartoon characters in the medium uncertainty condition would confer the greatest benefit to route overlap, relative to low and high conditions (Kreitler et al, 1975;Jirout and Klahr, 2012;Wu and Chen, 2016;Gruber et al, 2019). These predictions were in line with the findings by Jirout and Klahr (2012), who claim that children are more inclined to explore a novel environment when some information about the surrounding is provided prior to exploration, compared to when little to no prior information is revealed.…”

“…Therefore, in the medium and highuncertainty conditions, there was greater ambiguity in terms of which character would appear during exploration. Based on past findings, we predicted that greater ambiguity in predicted presence of the desired target stimuli (cartoon characters) in our medium and high uncertainty environments would evoke greater state curiosity in children, and subsequently enhance memory for spatial routes (Kreitler et al, 1975;Jirout and Klahr, 2012;Wu and Chen, 2016;Gruber et al, 2019).…”

Impact of information accessibility and diagnosticity on eye movements of children searching for information

“…This indicates that as children grow older, their abilities and strategies in information retrieval vary. Additionally, Wu and Chen (2016b) noted that information visualization assists children aged seven to 11 years old in searching for and comprehending information on virtual interfaces. Nevertheless, their information-searching behavior is influenced by both negative factors (e.g.…”

Influence of Marital Status on the Concept of Parenting

“…Regardless of their hobbies, they only look at the purpose, which makes the child tired of learning and even rebellious. In addition, a large and close interest in learning deprives children of their time with their parents and the child's own exploration time, prematurely loses the child's curiosity and desire to explore things, causing irreparable harm to the child's psychology and physiology [22][23].…”