Covariational influences on goal-based explanation: an integrative model

Covariational and goal-based approaches to social attribution have been treated as competitive or incommensurable. This article integrates key aspects of each approach. Four studies examined preferences for motivating factors (or goals) and enabling factors (or preconditions) as explanations of intentional actions. The studies manipulated (Studies 1-3) and measured (Study 4) the perceived covariation of these goal-based causes with target actions. Causes that covaried with actions were preferred explanations, in contrast with the goal-based view that motivating factors are generally preferred to enabling factors. Combining goal-based beliefs and covariational reasoning resolves problems faced by each individual approach and generates a novel explanatory typology that combines strengths of goal-based and covariational typologies.