In 1979, researchers at California State University, Fullerton, began following 130 infants all the way through adulthood, amassing 17,000 data points per person. They tested the kids at regular intervals until age 17 and then surveyed them in adulthood. The unique 30-year project, called the Fullerton Longitudinal Study, found that, independent of IQ, kids who were especially curious and enjoyed learning scored higher on standardized tests, were more likely to stay in school, and were more likely to go to graduate school than their less curious peers.
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