| The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between individual differences in Extraversion and Openness to Experience personality dimensions and Object and Social Curiosity in preschool children. Sixty eight preschoolers were rated by their parents and teachers on the Five Factor Model for Preschoolers (M5-PS). Curiosity was measured through observations of child behavior during exploration of novel objects and interactions with a stranger. It was hypothesized that Object Curiosity, or curiosity about things, would be positively correlated with Openness to Experience in preschool children, but not correlated with Extraversion in preschool children; and Social Curiosity, or curiosity about people, would be positively correlated with both Extraversion and Openness to Experience in preschool children. Results indicated there was a significant correlation between Object and Social Curiosity. There were not significant correlations between Object Curiosity and Extraversion, Object Curiosity and Openness to Experience, Social Curiosity and Extraversion, and Social Curiosity and Openness to Experience. Alternative explanations for these results and directions for future research are discussed. |
