{"id":1448,"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","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["agency-methodology","interactive-tool-mechanisms","curiosity-information-gap"],"reference_body":"**Rule:** Frame the tool's opening question so it feels **answerable-but-unknown** to the user. Aim **above the \"I have no idea\" floor** and **below the \"I already know\" ceiling**.\n\n**Why:** Curiosity follows an **inverted-U over prior knowledge** ([[curiosity-inverted-u-moderate-knowledge-finding]]) — peaks at moderate confidence, falls at both ends. Too-vague teasers can backfire and produce frustration ([[curiosity-gaps-backfire-when-too-vague-2024]]). Loewenstein 1994 ([[loewenstein-1994-information-gap-curiosity-foundational]]) is the foundational frame.\n\n**How to apply:**\n- Tool titles / headers should **name the specific question** the user is here to answer (\"What's the cost of a new roof for a 2,000 sq ft home?\"), not abstract teasers (\"Discover your savings\").\n- For SMB clients whose audience is mid-knowledge, lean into the gap (assume they've started researching).\n- For very-novice audiences, **lower the implied prior knowledge** before the question (a short framing paragraph).\n- Avoid \"you won't believe what you'll save\" — too-vague-curiosity is documented to backfire.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"rule-lead-mechanism-case-not-vendor-stats","title":"R1 — When recommending an interactive tool, LEAD on peer-reviewed mechanism evidence (goal-gradient, self-reference, IKEA, reciprocity, anchoring) — NOT vendor \"2× / 47% / 16.9×\" stats","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"loewenstein-1994-information-gap-curiosity-foundational","title":"Loewenstein (1994), Psychological Bulletin 116(1) — information-gap theory: curiosity is cognitively induced deprivation from a perceived gap in knowledge or understanding","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"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","link_type":"depends-on"},{"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":"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"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:16.019Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:16.019Z"}