Leslie (2014) suggests that
information leads to curiosity through an awareness of our ignorance, which in
turn leads to a desire to know more. As soon as we know something about a
subject, we start to become uncomfortably aware of what we do not know, and
that makes us want to close the gap by learning more. So it is not simply the
absence of information that creates curiosity, but rather a realization of a gap
in our existing knowledge.
When we know nothing about a
subject, we find it hard to engage our brains, because we are intimidated by
the prospect of starting to learn about something we may be unable to
understand. Let us consider this in the context of your dissertation. When you
first begin to the process of working on your dissertation, you are probably
quite aware that there is so much you do not know; which may feel intimidating
and overwhelming. However, as you begin to read the literature you realize that
while there is much you do not know, you do have a basis for understanding the
information by building on your previous knowledge. As you begin to make
connections, your curiosity grows and you begin to ask questions to fill in the
gaps in your knowledge, until you realize that the pieces of information you
seek are not available. There is where the basis of your research project
begins: that is the gap in the literature you will attempt to fill.
Today's
break photo was taken in Montana's Paradise Valley near Emigrant MT. Next time I
will consider the power of questions. Do you have an issue or a question that
you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest
writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu
Leslie, I. (2014). Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your
Future Depends on It. London: Quercus.
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