METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WHEN DETERMINING VERBAL PROTOCOL ACCURACY EMPIRICALLY

The approach which can in principle be followed to provide an empirica l assessment of verbal protocol accuracy is evaluated from a methodolo gical point of view. Three classes of problems are identified with thi s approach. These pertain to: selecting and eliciting observable behav iors, converting the observations into data and interpreting the data. Possible ways to deal with the listed problems are presented. It is e mphasized that, when adopting the approach, verbal protocol accuracy c an only be inferred rather than directly observed.