A quantum of truth? Querying the alternative benchmark for human cognition

Abstract

We focus on two issues: (1) an unusual, counterintuitive prediction that quantum probability (QP) theory appears to make regarding multiple sequential judgments, and (2) the extent to which QP is an appropriate and comprehensive benchmark for assessing judgment. These issues highlight how QP theory can fall prey to the same problems of arbitrariness that Pothos & Busemeyer (P&B) discuss as plaguing other models.

Classic-probability accounts of mirrored (quantum-like) order effects in human judgments.

“…It worth noting that an extension of the model to three questions (something already suggested byNewell, van Ravenzwaaij, & Donkin, 2013) provides additional degrees of freedom (a simple extension to three questions would result in 42 degrees of freedom) that would allow for certain mixtures to be tested (seeClogg, 1995;Lazarsfeld & Henry, 1968). However, this is still far from a full account of individual differences.…”