logic

>set of standards for assessing the quality of arguments/propositions/tasks >objective analysis of statements

logical reasoning

analysing arguments/propositions/tasks to draw/endorse correct conclusion by evaluating evidence

reasoning task components

>premises- information that provides support >conclusion- statements claimed to follow logically from information in premises

deductive reasoning

>truly logical >arrive at conclusions based on assumed to be true information in premises >if information is true, then guarantees truth of conclusion

inductive reasoning

>arrive at conclusions based on (not necessarily true) evidence >no guarantee of truth >premises might be true but conclusion is false

soundness

>conclusion follows logically from premises that are true >test circumstances >can't be sound and invalid

validity

>conclusion follows logically from premises >propositions valid but no always true >can be valid but unsound

conditional reasoning

>how words in connecting propositions influence inferential reasoning >affects drawing correct conclusions based on making inferences >'if-then' propositions

logically valid inference types

>modus tollens/denial of consequent >modus ponens/affirmation of antecedent

modus tollens

draw logically-valid conclusion by denying consequent

modus ponens

draw logically-valid conclusion by affirming antecedent

logically-invalid inference types

>affirmation of consequent >denial of antecedent

denial of antecedent

>draw logically invalid conclusion by denying antecedent >if P not true, Q may or may not be true

affirmation of consequent

>draw logically invalid conclusion by affirming consequent >if Q true, P may or may not be true

evidence of inference types

>Evans et al. >DA- 59% >AC- 77% >MP- 98% >MT- 69%

presence of negation

when present in information statement of MT interference its harder to judge when they contain words like 'not'

mental rules theory assumptions

>Rips >mind contains 'mental logic' >premises presented in language-like way

mental rules theory stages

>represent underlying logical form of argument >access appropriate rules >evaluate components

MT rules in mental rules theory

deconstruct MP version before analysing MT version

mental models theory assumptions

>Johnson-Laird >procedures for manipulating representations >that models constructed to interpret premise >errors are due to failure to track mental models

mental models theory stages

>comprehension >draw conclusion >search for counter examples

MT vs MP in mental models theory

>more models for MT than MP >'flesh-out' basic, MP inference mental model to draw conclusion

Watson selection task

>studies performance on conditional reasoning >4 cards with 2 showing vowel or consonant, and 2 showing an odd or even number >conditional reasoning proposition given- if card has vowel, then other side has even number

WST results

> 70% choose wrong >choice of E card logically as it permits modus ponens >choice of 4 doesn't permit modus tollens, but 7 does >can't check truth of proposition with E and 4

WST findings

>individuals chose cards that confirm proposition's rule rather than disconfirming >'confirmation bias'

weaknesses of original WST

>poor performance due to abstract content and lacking context >using laws, rules or everyday events show better performance

'drinking age' version of WST

>conditional reasoning proposition given- if person drinks beer, then over 18yrs >90% chose logically correct cards 90% of the time

sentence verification task

(Watson) >participants slower at drawing logical or non-logical conclusions for propositions involving negative elements >affirmation of consequent inference present

rationality

>'good' thinking and reasoning, with thinking consistent with logic >concerns methods, not outcomes

bounded rationality theory

>explains rationality given 'cognitive constraints' >Simon- reasoning considered rational if it violates normative standards (logic) >cognitive resources and time to understand everything not possessed

satisficing in bounded rationality

>simpler criteria set for thinking due to limited resources >meets needs and goals given cognitive constraints >good enough, but imperfect compared to logic

system 1 reasoning

>reasoning according to achieving one's goals and needs in everyday situations >rapid, automatic, and influenced by beliefs, knowledge, experiences, and learning >doesn't conform to principles of logic

system 2 reasoning

>reasoning according to normative standards >rule-based and adheres to logic >slow, deliberative, conscious process using complex cognition

explanation for dual-systems

>belief bias effect >belief about proposition dominates when conclusion hard to draw >rely on prior belief (s1), but not consistent with s2

tacit thought process

task-specific and resistant to training

explicit thought process

>general and dependent on training

evidence for dual-system of reasoning

>abstract WST found cards chosen before being confirmed as longer inspection times for chosen cards >potential sequential use of systems as non-conscious process followed by conscious justification >prior believability of claim's conclusion affects performance