Exploration Inventory

Abstract

The Exploration Inventory (EI) is an 18-item self-report measure developed by Green and Campbell (2000) to assess an individual’s chronic tendency or disposition toward Exploration in adulthood. Rooted in research connecting adult Attachment Theory to exploratory behaviors, the scale captures the willingness to engage in novel experiences across intellectual, social, and physical domains. It is designed to quantify the desire for novelty, adventure, and exposure to unfamiliar environments, ideas, and people, serving as a key tool for researchers studying the relationship between attachment security and exploration.

Keywords

Exploration, Novelty Seeking, Attachment Theory, Adult Development, Personality, Psychometrics, Self-Report Inventory, Curiosity.

Authors

Jennifer D. Green, W. Keith Campbell

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Exploration Inventory is to provide a reliable and valid measure of individual differences in the propensity for exploratory behavior among adults. Specifically, it was developed to test hypotheses regarding the relationship between adult attachment styles and the motivation to engage with the environment, often viewed as a complementary behavioral system to attachment.

The scale serves as a practical tool for researchers studying personality factors, developmental psychology, and the activation of the behavioral system related to exploration. It aims to differentiate individuals based on their stated interest in seeking out new knowledge, physical adventures, and diverse social interactions, thereby operationalizing the concept of exploration as a stable, measurable disposition.

Construct

The Exploration Inventory measures the Psychological Construct of generalized exploratory disposition. This construct is defined as the chronic inclination or motivation to seek out and engage with novel, complex, or stimulating information and environments. In the context of the originating research, exploration is viewed as a fundamental human drive that, when securely attached, allows individuals to venture away from their attachment figures to learn and grow.

The 18 items reflect a broad conceptualization of exploration, encompassing three primary behavioral domains: Physical Exploration (e.g., seeking travel or adventure sports), Social Exploration (e.g., meeting strangers or seeking diverse friendships), and Intellectual Exploration (e.g., exploring unusual ideas or new academic subjects).

Validity

The Exploration Inventory generally demonstrates strong evidence of Construct Validity. This is supported by its significant positive correlations with established measures of related constructs, particularly the Openness to Experience domain of the Big Five personality model, as well as measures of sensation seeking and curiosity. These findings confirm that the EI measures a disposition consistent with existing personality frameworks.

Furthermore, Criterion Validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to predict real-world exploratory behaviors, such as the likelihood of participating in study abroad programs, engaging in unusual hobbies, or seeking out diverse professional experiences. The scale’s theoretical alignment with Attachment Theory provides essential conceptual grounding for its use in adult development research.

Reliability

The Exploration Inventory typically exhibits high internal consistency, a crucial measure in Psychometrics. Studies utilizing the scale generally report Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from acceptable to high, often exceeding .80, confirming that the 18 items consistently measure the same underlying trait of exploratory disposition.

Additionally, the scale is expected to demonstrate adequate Test-Retest Reliability, indicating that the measure of an individual’s exploratory tendency remains stable over reasonable periods of time, consistent with the objective of measuring a chronic personality trait rather than a temporary state or mood.

Factor Analysis

Although the Exploration Inventory is frequently scored as a single, unidimensional measure to represent overall exploratory disposition, initial factor analyses often suggest a multi-faceted structure reflecting the distinct domains addressed by the items (physical, social, and intellectual exploration). However, because these potential sub-factors are typically highly correlated, researchers often utilize the total score for simplicity and robustness.

Principal component analysis generally reveals a dominant primary factor explaining a substantial proportion of the variance, reinforcing the scale’s fundamental utility in capturing a unitary, broad construct relevant to personality and Attachment Theory research.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire/Inventory

Format: 18 items rated on a numerical Likert Scale ranging from 1 (“does not describe me at all”) to 8 (“very much describes me”).

Language Available: Primarily English (original development language).

Population Group: General adult population, frequently used with college students in initial validation studies.

Age Group: Adults (typically 18 years and older).

Population Details: The scale is designed to be applicable across diverse demographic groups, measuring a fundamental behavioral disposition related to novelty seeking and engagement with the environment.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate the extent to which each descriptive statement reflects their personal interests, desires, or potential actions. Total scores are calculated by summing the responses, with higher scores indicating a greater disposition toward Exploration.

Keywords

Exploration Inventory (EI), Psychological Assessment, Personality Measurement, Dispositional Exploration, Social Exploration, Intellectual Curiosity, Green and Campbell.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not publicly listed for general scale documentation.

Affiliation Email addresses: Contact information typically available via the authors’ academic institutions at the time of publication (Green, J. D. & Campbell, W. K., 2000).

Correspondence Address: Refer to the original publication in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin for specific author correspondence details.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed in 2000 and published as part of academic research. It is generally considered a freely available instrument for non-commercial academic research purposes, provided appropriate citation is given to Green and Campbell (2000). No specific fee structure or formal commercial licensing is typically required for standard academic use.

Test Year: 2000

Reference’s

Green, J. D., & Campbell, W. K. (2000). Attachment and exploration in adults: Chronic and contextual accessibility. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 460–472.

The original reference material, which may contain additional context or scoring information, can be downloaded here (Note: File is a legacy .doc format): www.peteranthony.org/…/Myers8e%20IR%20Ch.%2012.doc

Items of the Exploration Inventory

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Respond to these items using the following scale:

does not describe me at all 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 very much describes me

1. I would like to take a class that is unrelated to my major just because it interests me.
2. I would like to try bungee jumping, skydiving, or other adventurous activities.
3. If I had the time and money, I would like to travel overseas this summer.
4. I would like to explore someplace that I have never been before.
5. I would like to have several friends who are very different from each other.
6. I would like to spend a semester studying abroad.
7. I would like a job that was unusual and different.
8. I would like to have the chance to meet strangers.
9. If given the chance, I would enjoy exploring unusual ideas or theories.
10. I would like to explore the woods and interesting places near my town.
11. I would enjoy being introduced to new people
12. I would pick up a book on an interesting topic and read some of it.
13. If I had time, I would enjoy watching TV shows on interesting topics such as science, history, art, or culture.
14. I would like to explore the ideas of foreign cultures.
15. I would enjoy joining a student group composed of a wide range of people I don’t know.
16. I would like to go to a modern art museum.
17. I would strike up a conversation with a stranger on a bus or airplane and open up to the person.
18. I would like to go to a party if I didn’t know very many of the people.