Effects of Resource Constraints on Ideal Plans

Abstract

Ss divided a pool of resources among human characteristics in order to describe their ideals. The total resources were varied so that some Ss did not have enough, and others had too many to describe their ideals properly. All resources had to be expended but only a fixed maximum amount could be allocated to any single characteristic. The results provide insight into the way Ss maintain the relative importance of properties with different resource levels. The findings also indicate an optimal quantity of resources necessary to allow expression of an ideal preference ordering. Possible applications of these results include areas of psychology in which Ss indicate the relative importance of some group of interrelated items.