Matching bias in the selection task is not eliminated by explicit negations

Authors: Stahl, Christoph¹; Klauer, Karl Christoph¹; Erdfelder, Edgar²

Source: Thinking & Reasoning, Volume 14, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 281-303(23)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

The processes that guide performance in Wason's selection task (WST) are still under debate. The matching bias effect in the negations paradigm and its elimination by explicit negations are central arguments against a substantial role for inferential processes. Two WST experiments were conducted in the negations paradigm to replicate the basic finding and to compare effects of implicit and explicit negations. Results revealed robust matching bias in implicit negations. In contrast to previous findings, matching bias was reduced but not eliminated in conditions using explicit negations. Model-based analyses suggest that matching bias is due to a switch towards a negative test strategy caused by negations.

Keywords: Reasoning; Heuristics; Wason selection task; Matching bias

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/13546780802116807

Affiliations: 1: University of Freiburg, Germany 2: University of Mannheim, Germany

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$36.51 plus tax