{"id":1420,"slug":"curiosity-inverted-u-moderate-knowledge-finding","title":"Curiosity follows an INVERTED-U over prior knowledge/confidence — peaks at MODERATE knowing, falls when one knows nearly nothing or nearly everything (Kang 2009, Dubey-Griffiths 2020, Lee 2024)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["agency-methodology","interactive-tool-mechanisms","curiosity-information-gap"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** The curiosity-information-gap relationship is an **inverted-U over prior knowledge / confidence**: curiosity peaks at **MODERATE prior knowledge** and falls when one knows **nearly nothing or nearly everything**. Replicated across paradigms (trivia, blurred pictures, letter guessing, web-ad clicks).\n\n**Source:** Kang et al. 2009; **Dubey & Griffiths (2020)**, *Psychological Review* 127(3), 455-476; **Lee et al. (2024)**, *Metacognition and Learning*.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified.\n\n**Caveat:** Curiosity gaps can also **backfire** when too vague — see [[curiosity-gaps-backfire-when-too-vague-2024]].\n\n**Why this matters for Candid:** **THE design-critical limit on M1.** A tool's question must feel **answerable-but-unknown** to the user. Aim above the user's \"I have no idea\" floor and below their \"I already know\" ceiling. Anchors [[rule-design-question-for-curiosity-inverted-u]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"kang-2009-wick-candle-curiosity-caudate-fmri","title":"Kang, Camerer, Loewenstein et al. (2009), Psychological Science 20(8) — \"Wick in the Candle of Learning\": fMRI shows curiosity → caudate (reward) activity; better recall 1-2 weeks later; people spend tokens to satisfy curiosity","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-smb-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer top-up): why interactive online tools are psychologically engaging — six additional mechanisms (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"curiosity-gaps-backfire-when-too-vague-2024","title":"Curiosity gaps can BACKFIRE when teasers are too vague/abstract — information-seeking drops (Scientific Reports 2024; OBHDP 2023 frustration finding)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"caveats-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-mechanism-vs-business-outcome","title":"Caveats for the engagement-mechanisms top-up: strong independent evidence sits at the MECHANISM level not the business-outcome level; nearly every effect is moderated","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-design-question-for-curiosity-inverted-u","title":"R1 — Design the tool's opening question for the curiosity inverted-U: ANSWERABLE-but-UNKNOWN; do not go too vague (backfire) or too obvious (no gap)","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.893Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:15.893Z"}