Most people seem to agree that curiosity is a useful intrinsic motivator for research at the macro level.
I think treating exploration at the micro level, or even basic practice, as a form of play might help build solid skills or just ability to enjoy the activity. (Though watch out for reverse causality—it’s also possibly that if people are good at something, they enjoy practicing it as a result. I have a few anecdotes which suggest correlation, if not which way the arrow of causation points.)
I don’t see this as interlinked with research, so much as a possible explanation for why some people enjoy things and other people hate them—trying to do something that relies on a really solid foundation you don’t have might be incredibly frustrating/draining. And with “play” people might be a bit more chill about it taking a while to learn things and keep at them. (This benefit might be more of a long run thing, than an immediate one.)
I think treating exploration at the micro level, or even basic practice, as a form of play might help build solid skills or just ability to enjoy the activity. (Though watch out for reverse causality—it’s also possibly that if people are good at something, they enjoy practicing it as a result. I have a few anecdotes which suggest correlation, if not which way the arrow of causation points.)
I don’t see this as interlinked with research, so much as a possible explanation for why some people enjoy things and other people hate them—trying to do something that relies on a really solid foundation you don’t have might be incredibly frustrating/draining. And with “play” people might be a bit more chill about it taking a while to learn things and keep at them. (This benefit might be more of a long run thing, than an immediate one.)