2022 Publications
Measuring Epistemic Weather Curiosity: Initial Development and Validation of an Individual Difference Questionnaire
Matthew J. Bolton
Saint Leo University & How The Weatherworks
Lara K. Ault & Keith Burton
Saint Leo University
Dylan R. Allen
How The Weatherworks
This paper addresses work at the intersection of meteorology and the psychology of curiosity and learning (Bolton et al., 2020; Stewart et al., 2015, 2018). Specifically, we report on the development and validation of the first self-report measure of epistemic (i.e., information-based) weather curiosity. An 11-item self-report scale (the Epistemic Weather Curiosity Questionnaire; ECWQ) measuring general interest in learning about weather and curiosity for the science behind weather was derived from two studies. The EWCQ demonstrated good convergent validity overall. It was significantly and positively correlated with measures of weather salience and analytical (systemizing) cognitive style in both studies: weather warning awareness and beliefs about one’s ability to prepare for severe weather in study 1; and trait epistemic curiosity, trait openness, and interest in learning science in study 2. Psychometric properties and implications of the scale for use by meteorologists, educators, and academic researchers are discussed.
Matthew J. Bolton
Saint Leo University & How The Weatherworks
Lara K. Ault & Keith Burton
Saint Leo University
Dylan R. Allen
How The Weatherworks
This paper addresses work at the intersection of meteorology and the psychology of curiosity and learning (Bolton et al., 2020; Stewart et al., 2015, 2018). Specifically, we report on the development and validation of the first self-report measure of epistemic (i.e., information-based) weather curiosity. An 11-item self-report scale (the Epistemic Weather Curiosity Questionnaire; ECWQ) measuring general interest in learning about weather and curiosity for the science behind weather was derived from two studies. The EWCQ demonstrated good convergent validity overall. It was significantly and positively correlated with measures of weather salience and analytical (systemizing) cognitive style in both studies: weather warning awareness and beliefs about one’s ability to prepare for severe weather in study 1; and trait epistemic curiosity, trait openness, and interest in learning science in study 2. Psychometric properties and implications of the scale for use by meteorologists, educators, and academic researchers are discussed.
| Measuring Epistemic Weather Curiosity: Initial Development and Validation of an Individual Difference Questionnaire |