Abstract
Research question: Do we adhere to the principle of allocating the least effort when engaging in non-instrumental information sampling, or are we inclined to surpass that threshold by investing extra resources to experience a sense of agency? Can the initial feelings of certainty, curiosity, or the subsequent aha-experience predict exploratory behaviour? Background: In this study, I examine curiosity-driven exploratory behaviour. First, I investigate the conditions under which curiosity is evoked, from the information gap-perspective. Subsequently, I examine two competing models regarding curiosity-driven exploration. In particular, the expected information gain (EIG)-model propose that the potential informational gain associated with novel information is the motivational factor driving non-instrumental exploration. A cost-benefit analysis of the predicted costs and reward will ensure no wasted resources. Only when the net value of the evaluation is positive, exploratory behaviour will occur. The competing model, the agency-model, states that the act of investing resources is rewarding, as a feeling of self-efficacy follows from exploration. Thus, exploratory behaviour may precede the threshold of the least required effort. Third, I investigate the relation between exploratory behaviour and the subsequent aha-experience in response to curiosity-relief. I propose the aha-experience to be a function of curiosity, but to also be influenced by exploratory behaviour. Method: To investigate curiosity-driven exploration, a new experimental paradigm was developed: Participants were placed in a situation in which various levels of uncertainty was evoked with Mooney Images (MI). MIs are grey-scale images (GSI) which have been subjected to a modification routine in which blurring and then thresholding results in a seemingly randomized set of white and black spots. This distorts the content of the image causing uncertainty, which eventually can cause curiosity about the pre-modification content. Uncertainty evoked by MIs has earlier been shown to induce curiosity, and releasing the uncertainty by revealing the corresponding GSI has been shown to cause an aha-experience. To contrast the agency and EIG-model participants were asked to choose one out of two ways to obtain the content of the GSI: they could request to see the GSI without any additional work. The other way was to indulge in exploratory behaviour by requesting visual hints to uncover the GSI content. Curiosity, certainty, and aha-experience was measured with self-report on visual analogue rating scales. A newly developed ‘objective’ calculation of certainty was also included. Results: Certainty did show a monotonic, negative correlation with curiosity. Exploratory behaviour was positively predicted by curiosity and negatively predicted by certainty, lending support to the agency-model. Aha-experiences were shown to be higher for participants who chose to explore. It was also positively correlated with curiosity, and this relation was moderated by exploration. Conclusion: The results suggest that exploration is not just an essential means for individuals to access valuable information, but to be inherently rewarding. Additionally, the process of acquiring new information is revealed to play a role in the subsequent aha-experience.