The respondent is then given a list of steps he or she needs to work through, in this example the following list:
The first task of this project “Set the date for the reunion” is a good example of a typical problem-solving task and is shown here as it would appear in a test booklet.
Example task: Set the date for the reunion
The family reunion should take place sometime in July.
You asked all your relatives to tell you which dates would be suitable. After talking to them, you made a list of your relatives' appointments during the month of July. Your own appointment calendar is lying in front of you. You realize that some of your relatives will have to arrive a day early in order to attend the family reunion and will also only be able to return home on the day after the meeting.
Please look at the list of your relatives' appointments and your own appointment calendar.
| Henry | Karen | Peter | Janet | Anne | Frank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacation in
City E
beginning
on July 26; Appointment on July 11 |
Every day of the week is okay except Thursdays and on July 16 |
Business appoint- ments on July 2, July 13, and between July 27 and 29 |
Doesn’t have any appoint- ments |
Unable to attend reunion on July 5, July 20, or July 24 |
Has to be away sometime during the 1st full week in July on business, but will find out the exact dates shortly before |
Henry, Karen, and Peter could arrive on the same day as the reunion whereas Janet, Anne, and Frank can only arrive on the afternoon before and return home on the day after the reunion.