Evidence that ‘thinking aloud’ constitutes an externalization of inner speech

Abstract

Thinking aloud as a method of studying problem solving has been seen as a variant of introspection. In the present study, introspective and thinking aloud protocols were compared. The thinking aloud protocols were more elliptical present-oriented, and contained more indefinite referents. Reasons were given for interpreting these findings as indicating that thinking aloud makes overt the normally covert process of inner speech. © 1969, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.