engleski

Deduction with conditionals: A mental chronometry study.

Mental models are representations of states set by premises. Mental models theory (Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991) describes deductive inference processes with constructing mental representations that combine case states in a way that these contain valid conclusions. According to theory, deductive tasks become more difficult for their performers as working memory gets more loaded with the number of constructed mental models. The aim of this study is to verify two predictions resulting from mental models theory of conditional reasoning. First, to verify that participants achieve lesser efficiency in MT (modus tollens) tasks in comparison to MP (modus ponens) tasks and second, to verify that the linear increase of number of necessary mental models for inferring valid conclusion is followed by decrease of efficiency. This experiment involved psychology students who were solving a set of 36 propositional calculus logic tasks. Tasks were constructed so as to demand 1 to 7 mental models for valid solution and they contained both MP and MT types of conditionals. Efficiency parameters were measured with correct answers proportion and response time. The data gained confirm both hypotheses of mental models theory: participants are more correct and faster when solving MP than MT tasks and participants' success in inferring conclusions shows a significant decrease in function of increase of minimal number of constructed mental models necessary for valid conclusion inference.

deduction; conditional; reaction time; mental models; modus ponens; modus tollens

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