Planning and Interlanguage Variation

Crookes (1989) reported that providing subjects with pretask planning time leads to greater complexity and variety of language but no significant increases in accuracy.

“Crookes (1989) reported a study in which providing subjects with pretask planning time leads to greater complexity and variety of language but no significant increases in accuracy.”

Crookes (1989) relied principally on specific measures, and this may have been a factor in the lack of significance reported.

“Crookes (1989) relied principally on specific measures (target-like use of the article system and of plural -s), and this may have been a factor in the lack of significance reported.”

In Crookes (1989), standard deviations for the measures reported tended to be higher for the planning groups for the complexity measures, suggesting that some subjects interpreted the planning instructions in different ways.

“the standard deviations for the measures reported tended to be higher for the planning groups for the complexity measures, suggesting that some subjects interpreted the planning instructions in different ways”

Crookes (1989) reported a complexity effect, but no significant differences for accuracy.

“The most comparable study (Crookes, 1989) reported a complexity effect, but no significant differences for accuracy.”

These results contrast with those of Crookes (1989) in that here planning is associated with a greater degree of accuracy, at least some of the time.

“First, these results contrast with those of Crookes (1989) in that here planning is associated with a greater degree of accuracy, at least some of the time.”

The evidence on the influence of planning on accuracy is mixed.

“First of all, we need to recall that the evidence on the influence of planning on accuracy is mixed.”

Crookes' (1989) tasks, such as a LEGO assembly, were classroom tasks and did not have much connection with the subjects' real lives.

“Crookes' (1989) tasks, for example, a LEGO assembly, were classroom tasks and did not have much connection with the subjects' real lives.”

Crookes' tasks were devices for the transmission of neutral and arbitrary information.

“They were, quite simply, devices for the transmission of neutral and arbitrary information.”

Consistent with Crookes (1989), complexity became the preeminent goal under detailed planning, but accuracy suffered to some degree, reducing to a point midway between the undetailed and nonplanning conditions for the Personal task, below the no planning conditions for the Narrative task, and only slightly inferior to the undetailed planning for the Decision task.

“Consistent with Crookes (1989), complexity became the preeminent goal, but accuracy suffered to some degree, reducing to a point midway between the undetailed and nonplanning conditions for the Personal task, below the no planning conditions for the Narrative task, and only slightly inferior to the undetailed planning for the Decision task.”

Crookes (1989) seemed to be testing for specific increases in accuracy, whereas the present study was more interested in detecting a more generalized accuracy effect.

“Crookes (1989) seemed to be testing for specific increases in accuracy, whereas we were more interested in detecting a more generalized accuracy effect.”

Crookes (1989) looked for specific effects on a wide range of variables, whereas the present study used a more global measure based on all contributory influences on error and correctness.

“Crookes (1989) looked for specific effects on a wide range of variables, whereas the present study used a more global measure based on all contributory influences on error and correctness.”