What is the difference between 'past behavior indicators' and 'intentions' items?

• A. Past behavior indicators assess hypothetical future behavior.
• B. Past behavior indicators solicit actual conduct history; intention items assess likelihood of future behavior in hypothetical situations.
• C. Past behavior indicators measure current mood.
• D. Intention items measure actual conduct history.

Answer: (B)

Past behavior indicators vs intentions differentiate actual actions from planned likelihood. Past behavior indicators collect evidence of what someone has already done—their actual conduct history—whereas intentions items ask about how likely someone is to do something in the future in hypothetical, imagined situations. This matters because past actions reflect real behavior patterns and tend to be more predictive of future conduct, while intention items capture stated plans or expectations that can be influenced by context or self-presentation at the moment. The best choice captures this distinction by saying past behavior indicators solicit actual conduct history and intention items assess the likelihood of future behavior in hypothetical situations. The other options misstate the focus: past behavior indicators aren’t about hypothetical future behavior, current mood isn’t what’s being measured, and intention items aren’t about past conduct.