Generating alternatives: a key component in human reasoning?

Full Abstract

According to mental models theory, a key aspect of deductive reasoning is the production of alternative models that can falsify provisional conclusions. In the present paper, the possibility is investigated that there are individual differences in the ability to produce alternative models. The results indicate that some people do not proceed beyond the first model when they reason with syllogisms but that others do. Furthermore, the ability to generate alternatives can be independently measured by asking participants to generate different representations of pairs of premises. These findings support the predictions of mental models theory and also indicate the potential importance of alternatives generation as a measure of individual differences in processing style.

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Author information

Author/s: Newstead, Stephen E (SE); Thompson, Valerie A (VA); Handley, Simon J (SJ);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth, England. snewstead@plymouth.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Memory & cognition (Mem Cognit), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jan; vol 30 (issue 1) : pp 129-37

Dates: Created 2002/04/17; Completed 2002/10/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11958346, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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