Planning sources, planning difficulty and verbal fluency

Abstract

This investigation examined the sources of knowledge that persons use to devise plans to reach social goals. Specific episodes, ensembles of episodes, hypothetical episodes, role models, instruction, and previous plans were identified as sources. Using a think‐aloud procedure, persons were asked to develop plans for reaching the goals of requesting a date, ingratiating one's self to a new roommate, persuading another person on an issue, and becoming a millionaire. Protocols generated by this procedure were analyzed for evidence of the six knowledge sources. Speech generated during the think‐aloud procedure was subjected to sound‐silence analysis. Generalized knowledge sources were more frequently used as a basis for planning for the more familiar goals. However, specific, vivid instances were the most prevalent source of knowledge for developing ingratiation plans. Pausal phenomena were found to be related to the difficulty of generating plans for goals. Findings were discussed in terms of current theory and research concerned with roles of generalized and episode‐based knowledge in planning.