| Sumario: | Four experiments were conducted to examine the effects of operator implementation cost on planfulness of problem solving and learning. The idea that problem-solving search strategies are chosen in order to optimize performance within the constraints of a particular situation was examined, and the hypothesis that the cost of performing an operation affects planfulness—the level of planning during problem solving—was considered. Results revealed that when the cost associated with an operator was relatively high, problem-solving strategy became more plan-based, in that search paths were considered and evaluated mentally. However, when the cost associated with operators was relatively low, participants shifted to a less planful strategy in which the search was more reactive and display-based. Furthermore, the different levels of planfulness adopted were noted to have differential effects on learning performance. The prediction that the planfulness of problem-solving behavior can reliably be influenced by the implementation cost of an operator was supported.
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