Free choice tasks are routinely used in some research contexts. They have relatively clear defining traits by which they can be identified and at least some of their interactions with other psychological paradigms are known. That said, most of these definitions and empirical observations are of an operational nature rather than a conceptual one. The purpose of this talk is to provide a framework for discussion about important, but often neglected questions like: What does the freedom in free choice tasks mean? What *can* it mean? What would we like it to mean? If there is a gap between what we want to learn and what we can learn, and can it possibly be closed? How? Are there feasible alternatives suited for experiments mostly performed in the lab or in online labs?
As a starting point for discussion, a short presentation gives a selective overview of existing definitions of what constituted a free choice task and considers potential answers to the questions raised above. Afterwards, the attendees of the symposium and the audience are invited to share their perspectives in the context of a moderated discussion.