How Much Knowledge Is Necessary for Action?

Abstract

The relation between knowledge and action is a delicate one. Is acting possible without knowledge? Can people act against their knowledge? Action produces knowledge, but at the same time knowledge is required for action. This chapter provides a review of different conceptions concerning the relation between knowledge and action. Three theoretical frameworks are presented: the theory of planned behavior, the unconscious thought theory, and the option-generation framework. The relation between knowledge and action is illustrated with an example from problem-solving research.