Precorrentes verbais privados na resolução de problemas: um estudo sobre técnicas mnemônicas

Abstract

This study investigated the functional role of private verbal precurrents in solving problems involving the organization of arbitrary stimuli. Thirty university students participated in the research, evenly divided into three experimental groups (n = 10): Group 1 - Mnemonic Technique, Group 2 - Letter Sequence, and Group 3 - Control. The task consisted of sequentially ordering six pairs of words and pictures using the Chaining 1.2 software, applying periodic written reports after each two successive correct answers to map the transposition of public rules to the private level. Quantitative results indicated that Group 2 achieved statistically superior performance, registering the lowest average number of attempts (M = 25.60) and errors (M = 13.6) compared to Groups 1 and 3. Qualitatively, the reports allowed us to infer that participants exposed to the training formulated covert self-rules based on the intervention, but Group 2 structured this precurrent behavior in a significantly more agile way. It is concluded that direct and simple precurrent stimuli are more effective. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing concise clinical and pedagogical instructions, optimizing the establishment of effective rules and minimizing trial-and-error processes.