Exploration is the process of exploring, an activity which has
some
expectation
of
discovery
. Organised exploration is largely a human activity, but
exploratory activity is common to most organisms capable of directed
locomotion
and
the ability to learn, and has been described in, amongst others,
social insects
foraging
behaviour, where feedback from returning individuals affects the activity of other
members of the group.
[1]
Exploration has been defined as:
To travel somewhere in search of discovery.
[2]
To examine or investigate something systematically.
[2]
To examine diagnostically.
[2]
To (seek) experience first hand.
[2]
To wander without any particular aim or purpose.
[2]
In all these definitions there is an implication of novelty, or unfamiliarity or the
expectation of discovery in the exploration, whereas a
survey
implies directed
examination, but not necessarily discovery of any previously unknown or unexpected
information. The activities are not mutually exclusive, and often occur simultaneously to
a variable extent. The same field of investigation or region may be explored at different
times by different explorers with different motivations, who may make similar or different
discoveries.
Intrinsic exploration
involves activity that is not directed towards a specific goal other
than the activity itself.
[3]
Extrinsic exploration
has the same meaning as
appetitive behavior
.
[4]
[
clarification needed ]
It is
directed towards a specific goal.
Motivation
[]
See also: Curiosity Curiosity is a quality related to inquisitive
thinking
and activities such as exploration,
investigation, and
learning
, evident by observation in humans and other
animals.
[5][6]
Exploratory behavior
is the movements of people and other animals while
becoming familiar with to new environments, even when there is no obvious biological
advantage to it. A lack of exploratory behaviour may be considered an indication of
fearfulness or emotionality.
[7]
Inspective exploration
or
specific exploration
is directed towards reducing
uncertainty, reducing anxiety, or fear, associated with novel stimuli, and thus
decreasing arousal.
[8]
Diversive exploration
is exploratory behavior seeking seeking novel or otherwise
activating stimuli and thus increasing arousal.
[9]
Affective exploration
is behaviour directed towards maintaining a desired hedonic
level of stimulation.
[10]