Validity of the Interest- and Deprivation-type epistemic curiosity distinction in non-students

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the validity of the Interest (I) and Deprivation (D) type epistemic curiosity (EC) distinction in non-students. In Study 1 (N = 263), responses to two EC measures, the Epistemic Curiosity Scale (ECS; Litman & Spielberger, 2003) and the Curiosity as a Feeling-of-Deprivation Scale (CFDS; Litman & Jimerson, 2004) were submitted to confirmatory factor analysis. A 2-factor model comprising the 10 items previously identified by Litman (2008) had the best fit as compared to several competing models. In Study 2 (N = 202), correlations between 5-item I- and D-type EC scales and intrinsic and extrinsic work-related motives were evaluated. As hypothesized, I-type EC correlated with intrinsic motivation, whereas D-type EC was related to both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.