Plan monitoring in conversations: An exploration of on‐line cognitive activity

Plan‐based models of communication are based on the assumption that some cognitive activity during conversations is devoted to plan‐monitoring. This plan‐based view contrasts with more situated views of conversation which depict interactions as spontaneous, unplanned activities. This research reports data on the nature of remembered on‐line cognition focusing on the extent to which on‐line cognition reflects planned discourse content and planned discourse structure. Also of interest is the nature of the plan‐monitoring processes underlying a close correspondence between intended and actual interaction behaviors. Results give some insight into the nature of the cognition occurring during interactions. Applying strict match rules, 9% of all cognitions could be traced directly to participants’ plans. Matches indicated that participants planned both content and structure. Findings suggest that plan‐based models of communication are tenable and that some revisions is current conceptualizations of interaction plans is appropriate.