Jordan A. Litman
University of South Florida
Network
Latest external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.
Publication
Featured researches published by Jordan A. Litman.
Cognition & Emotion | 2005
Jordan A. Litman
This paper proposes a new theoretical model of curiosity that incorporates the neuroscience of “wanting” and “liking”, which are two systems hypothesised to underlie motivation and affective experience for a broad class of appetites. In developing the new model, the paper discusses empirical and theoretical limitations inherent to drive and optimal arousal theories of curiosity, and evaluates these models in relation to Litman and Jimersons (2004) recently developed interest-deprivation (I/D) theory of curiosity. A detailed discussion of the I/D model and its relationship to the neuroscience of wanting and liking is provided, and an integrative I/D/wanting-liking model is proposed, with the aim of clarifying the complex nature of curiosity as an emotional-motivational state, and to shed light on the different ways in which acquiring knowledge can be pleasurable.
Journal of Personality Assessment | 2003
Jordan A. Litman; Charles D. Spielberger
A questionnaire constructed to assess epistemic curiosity (EC) and perceptual curiosity (PC) curiosity was administered to 739 undergraduates (546 women, 193 men) ranging in age from 18 to 65. The study participants also responded to the trait anxiety, anger, depression, and curiosity scales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI; Spielberger et al., 1979) and selected subscales of the Sensation Seeking (SSS; Zuckerman, Kolin, Price, & Zoob, 1964) and Novelty Experiencing (NES; Pearson, 1970) scales. Factor analyses of the curiosity items with oblique rotation identified EC and PC factors with clear simple structure. Subsequent analyses of the EC items provided the basis for developing an EC scale, with Diversive and Specific Curiosity subscales. Moderately high correlations of the EC scale and subscales with other measures of curiosity provided strong evidence of convergent validity. Divergent validity was demonstrated by minimal correlations with trait anxiety and the sensation-seeking measures, and essentially zero correlations with the STPI trait anger and depression scales. Male participants had significantly higher scores on the EC scale and the NES External Cognition subscale (effect sizes of r = .16 and .21, respectively), indicating that they were more interested than female participants in solving problems and discovering how things work. Male participants also scored significantly higher than female participants on the SSS Thrill-and-Adventure and NES External Sensation subscales (r = .14 and .22, respectively), suggesting that they were more likely to engage in sensation-seeking activities.
Journal of Personality Assessment | 2004
Jordan A. Litman; Tiffany L. Jimerson
Curiosity as a feeling of deprivation (CFD) reflects feelings of uncertainty and tension that motivate information-seeking and problem-solving behavior. Twenty-seven CFD items were administered to 321 participants (248 women, 73 men) along with other measures of curiosity and other personality traits such as anxiety, anger, and depression. Factor analyses of the CFD items identified 3 factors from which 5-item subscales were developed: (a) a need to feel competent, (b) intolerance experienced when information is inaccessible or inadequate, and (c) a sense of urgency to solve problems. Moderately high correlations of the CFD scales with other measures of curiosity provided evidence of convergent validity, whereas divergent validity was demonstrated by minimal correlations of the CFD scales with the other personality traits.
Personality and Individual Differences | 2004
Robert P. Collins; Jordan A. Litman; Charles D. Spielberger
Perceptual curiosity, as defined by Berlyne (1954), involves interest in and giving attention to novel perceptual stimulation, and motivates visual and sensory-inspection. A 33-item questionnaire constructed to assess individual differences in perceptual curiosity was administered to 320 undergraduate students (202 females; 118 males). The participants also responded to the trait scales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI), and to selected subscales of the Sensation Seeking (SSS) and Novelty Experiencing (NES) scales. Principal axis factor analyses of the perceptual curiosity (PC) items identified a strong PC factor. With oblique rotation, diversive and specific PC components were found, from which subscales were constructed. Moderate positive correlations of the PC scale and subscales were found with the NES and STPI measures of curiosity and the SSS and NES sensation seeking scales, suggesting that perceptual curiosity involves seeking both knowledge and sensory experience. Divergent validity of the PC scale was demonstrated by minimal relationships with the STPI trait anger scale, and essentially zero correlations with the STPI trait anxiety and depression scales.
Journal of Personality Assessment | 2006
Jordan A. Litman; Paul J. Silvia
To evaluate Litman and Jimersons (2004) Interest/Deprivation (I/D) model of curiosity, 355 students (269 women, 86 men) responded to 6 trait curiosity measures including the Curiosity/Interest in the World scale (C/IW; Peterson & Seligman, 2004), the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI; Kashdan, Rose, & Fincham, 2004), the Perceptual Curiosity scale (PC; Collins, Litman, & Spielberger, 2004), the Epistemic Curiosity scale (EC; Litman & Spielberger, 2003), and the Curiosity as a Feeling-of-Deprivation scales (CFD; Litman & Jimerson, 2004). Consistent with expectations, the results of confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the C/IW, CEI, PC, EC scales defined an Interest (I) curiosity factor, whereas the CFD scales formed a Deprivation (D) curiosity factor. However, as compared to the other interest-based curiosity measures, one of the EC subscales was found to be less differentiated from the CFD scales, presumably because these instruments assess overlapping aspects of Berlynes (1954) concept of epistemic curiosity. The results of this study indicated that I and D curiosity are related but differentiated curiosity dimensions, providing evidence for the validity of the I/D model.
Journal of Health Psychology | 2009
Jordan A. Litman; George D. Lunsford
In dealing with a stressful event, 440 participants reported how frequently they used a variety of different coping strategies, rated their separate impacts on problems and the associated emotions, and reported their effects on subsequent health and well-being. Coping strategies did not generally impact problems or emotions differently. Use of planning led to increased self-efficacy, which along with positive reinterpretation, predicted growth. Emotional venting and behavioral disengagement predicted diminishment, which along with mental disengagement and self-injury, predicted illness. Social support buffered against diminishment. Use of acceptance coping and seeking advice from others had both positive and negative effects on well-being.
Medical science educator | 2013
Jeremy B. Richards; Jordan A. Litman; David H. Roberts
Epistemic curiosity is theorized to underlie the adoption of learning goals, studying strategies, and skill development critical to becoming a successful physician. However, there is relatively little research regarding the measurement of epistemic curiosity in medical learners. We administered the I- and D-type curiosity and Need For Cognition (NFC) scales to assess individual differences in epistemic curiosity, and the Study Processes Questionnaire to measure tendencies to employ “Deep” or “Surface” learning goals and strategies to 90 third-year medical students in academic years 2010 and 2011. The performance characteristics of these instruments were characterized, and path analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between these instruments. Individual differences in I- and D-type curiosity were positively associated with tendencies to set goals and use strategies aimed at developing a deeper understanding of knowledge. NFC was negatively associated with goals and strategies that involved seeking only a surface understanding of new information. Our results demonstrate that in a population of medical learners, I- and D-type curiosity scale scores significantly predict seeking a deeper understanding of new information, while NFC scale scores may be better considered as a marker of avoiding superficial study processes but not necessarily engaging in deeper approaches.
Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science | 2011
Robert R. Hoffman; Simon Henderson; Brian M. Moon; David T. Moore; Jordan A. Litman
We review the consensus of expert opinion concerning the psychology of intelligence analysis, as a form of critical thinking. This consensus details a number of ways in which the cognitive work is difficult. Many senior analysts have commented upon the requirements of intelligence analysis – the reasoning traps to which novices fall victim, and the required knowledge and skills of experts. There remain gaps in our understanding, not just because the research is classified. There simply has not been that much systematic research. If the empirical base were broadened, headway might be made in training and techniques to help analysts cope with difficulty. We hope that this article contributes by presenting an overview and rationale for empirical study of the cognitive ergonomics of intelligence analysis.
Personality and Individual Differences | 2006
Jordan A. Litman
Personality and Individual Differences | 2008
Jordan A. Litman