AUTHOR=Navas-León Sergio , Pérez-Moreno Pedro Juan , Santin Vilarino Carmen , Diaz-Milanes Diego 

TITLE=Revalidation of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II) using network analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1514959

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1514959

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=BackgroundCuriosity is crucial across various domains, from clinical to educational fields, and holds potential for psychological interventions. Accurate definition and assessment of curiosity are essential for understanding its role and utility. Traditional approaches like factor analysis may not fully capture the construct's nuances.ObjectivesThis study aims to reassess the psychometric properties of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II) using Network Analysis.MethodsA total of 849 Spanish undergraduate students participated in the study. Descriptive analysis, partial-correlation network analysis with gender invariance testing, and Bayesian network model estimation were conducted.ResultsThe findings indicate that the CEI-II is best conceptualized as a stable, one-dimensional model, consistent with prior research. The partial-correlation network exhibited moderate density and was invariant in structure, centrality measures, and edge strength across genders, although global strength differed. The Bayesian network identified key pathways for designing interventions based on curiosity.ConclusionsWhile the results revealed three distinct item groupings based on centrality measures—challenge-seeking (specific curiosity), novelty-seeking (diversive curiosity), and a combination of both—the empirical evidence supported a stable unidimensional network structure. Items related to specific curiosity showed stronger interconnections, highlighting their importance in fostering curiosity-driven behaviors. These insights suggest that interventions targeting key items may enhance curiosity, and accounting for gender differences could further improve effectiveness.