Mental model construction in spatial linear syllogisms

Vandierendonck, André; Vooght, Gino De; Simpelaere, Chris De

doi:10.1037/e536982012-357

Cited by 6 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Also conclusion evaluation is influenced by the nature of the relation described in the problems. However, Vandierendonck et al (2000) have shown that this is only the case for conclusions querying an indeterminate relation (indeterminate conclusions) of the multiple-model problems. In order to evaluate these conclusions, reasoners have to flesh out the marker into a forked structure that makes explicit the multiple relations between the premise terms.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More specifically, we presented one-model problems, describing a determinate relation between the premise terms, and two-model problems describing an indeterminate relation. Recent research on relational reasoning has shown that model construction of multiple-model problems remains of a more complex nature than model construction of one-model problems, even when the multiple possibilities are represented in only one model (Schaeken & Van der Henst, 2002;Vandierendonck, De Vooght, Desimpelaere, & Dierckx, 2000). According to these studies, reasoners seem either to represent all possible relations of a multiple-model problem immediately in the initial model (isomeric model; Schaeken & Van der Henst, 2002) or to represent only one possible relation, elaborated with a marker indicating that, from that point on, the relation is indeterminate (annotated mental model; Vandierendonck et al, 2000).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is model construction open to strategic decisions? An exploration in the field of linear reasoning

Dierckx

Vandierendonck

Pandelaere

2003

Thinking & Reasoning

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This paper reports four experiments investigating whether model construction of linear reasoning problems is open to strategic decisions. A reversed choice/nochoice paradigm was used in which reasoners first had to apply two model construction strategies (acronym and rehearsal strategy) to two problem sets. Next, they could choose freely among the two strategies to apply to a new problem set. Experiment 1 showed that reasoners selected the strategy that they experienced as the most accurate one in the no-choice phase. Moreover, in Experiment 2, it was found that reasoners adapted their strategy choice to changing problem features, to use the most suitable strategy for premise encoding. Experiments 3 and 4 generalised these findings to more complex linear reasoning problems with a mixed sentence frame and a semi-continuous presentation of the premises, and to two-model problems. On the basis of these results, we argue that strategic decisions influence model construction in linear reasoning.For a long time, research in deductive reasoning has been driven by intense debates on the nature of the reasoning mechanism underlying all types of deductive reasoning. The heart of this controversy concerned the question of whether reasoning involves the syntactic application of natural deduction rules (mental rule theories; e.g., Rips, 1994) or is based upon the construction and manipulation of mental models representing the

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is model construction open to strategic decisions? An exploration in the field of linear reasoning

Dierckx

Vandierendonck

Pandelaere

2003

Thinking & Reasoning

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“…On the basis of empirical data, Vandierendonck et al (2000) have argued in favour of the annotated models view and have shown that at least the complete models view is probably incorrect. The present article presents the results of two experiments aimed at a systematic test of the validity of all these explanations.…”

Section: Model Construction In Linear Reasoningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is, however, a fourth possibility, which is based on the integration of the information into a single representation (Vandierendonck, De Vooght, Desimpelaere, & Dierckx, 2000). Instead of keeping a separate record of the indeterminate information, the latter information can be integrated in the first model by making an annotation or putting a marker (a mental footnote, Rauh, 2000) indicating the necessity of further elaboration when needed.…”

Section: Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental model construction in linear reasoning: Evidence for the construction of initial annotated models

Vandierendonck

Dierckx

Vooght

2004

The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A

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According to the mental model theory, reasoners build an initial model representing the information given in the premises. In the context of relational reasoning, the question arises as to which kind of representation is used to cope with indeterminate or multimodel problems. The present article presents an array of possible answers arising from the initial construction of complete explicit models, partial explicit models, partial implicit models, a single "isomeric" model, or a single annotated model. Predictions generated from these views are tested in two experiments that vary the problem structure and the number of models consistent with the premises. Analyses of the premise processing times, answering times and accuracy show that the annotated model yields the best fit of the data. Implications of these findings for the mental model theory as developed for relational reasoning are discussed.In linear syllogisms such as George is heavier than Tony and Tony is heavier than Jacques, people easily infer that George is heavier than Jacques. The findings collected in numerous studies substantiate the hypothesis that people solve such problems by constructing a linear array with the largest values at the top and the smallest ones at the bottom or alternatively by constructing a left-to-right array (see, e.g., De Soto, London, & Handel, 1965;Huttenlocher, 1968;Potts, 1974). The review by Evans, Newstead, and Byrne (1993, chap. 6) shows that this view yields the best summary of the findings reported in the literature. The usage of such an integrated spatial representation seems to be independent of the relational content and works both for determinate problems (as in the example above) and for indeterminate problems as, for example, in George is heavier than Jacques and George is heavier than Tony, where the relation between Jacques and Tony remains unresolved. Support for all this has been accumulated in

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“…This result 1) is often mentioned Johnson-Laird & Byrne, 1991;Evans, Newstead & Byrne, 1993, Johnson-Laird, 19962001;Vandierendonck, De Vooght, Desimpelaere & Dierckx, 2000) and 2) has been often replicated in several sub-domains of relational reasoning, i.e. for spatial reasoning (Boudreau & Pigeau, 2001;Carreiras & Santamaria, 1997;Roberts, 2000, Vandierendonck & De Vooght, 1996), temporal reasoning (Schaeken, Johnson-Laird & d'Ydewalle, 1996a1996b;Schaeken, Girotto & Johnson-Laird, 1998;Schaeken & Johnson-Laird, 2000;Vandierendonck & De Vooght, 1996;, and abstract relational reasoning (Carreiras & Santamaria, 1997).…”

Section: E Is In Front Of Bmentioning

confidence: 91%

Mental model theory versus the inference rule approach in relational reasoning

Henst¹

2002

Thinking & Reasoning

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Mental model construction in spatial linear syllogisms

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Is model construction open to strategic decisions? An exploration in the field of linear reasoning

Is model construction open to strategic decisions? An exploration in the field of linear reasoning

Mental model construction in linear reasoning: Evidence for the construction of initial annotated models

Mental model theory versus the inference rule approach in relational reasoning

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