Elsevier

Behavior Therapy

Volume 24, Issue 3, Summer 1993, Pages 409-430
Behavior Therapy

Relationship between solution effectiveness ratings and actual solution impact in social problem solving*

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80214-XGet rights and content

This investigation examined the validity of Solution Effectiveness Ratings in interpersonal problem solving. In Phase 1, judges specified observable criteria for determining when each of 20 problems had been solved. College students generated Solutions for these problems. Five socially skilled college students rated effectiveness based on solution transcripts. Phase 2 employed the most effective and ineffective Solutions for each of the ten most difficult problems. Actors role-played the Solutions with “Reactors.” Each Solution role-play was classified as solving or not solving the problem, based on Reactors' behavior. Reactors rated the Social Impact of the solutions and the Realism of the role-play. The percentage of high Effectiveness Solutions that accornplished Problem-Solving Goals was no greater than the percentage of low Effectiveness Solutions that accomplished Goals. However, Solutions with high Effectiveness Ratings received higher Social Impact Ratings than Solutions with low Effectiveness Ratings. The results leave the validity of effectiveness ratings in question. This has implications for problem-solving training and research.

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    *

    Partial support for this project came from the West Virginia University Department of Psychology Alumni Fund. Appreciation is expressed to David Hansen for his very insightful and comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Stan Cohen and John Crosbie graciously provided invaluable consultation to clarify and simplify data analyses. Gratitude is also due to undergraduate research assistants Lauri Berkman, Kim Honaker, Rebecca Shivley, and John Yanik for their diligent and reliable work on this project.

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