Neglecting the Negative: Shortcomings in Reasoning

The Development of Scientific Reasoning Skills

“…The use of covariation as a cue to causality appears later in development, in part because other cues-to-causality are preferred and used by preschoolers. Also, covariation evidence is difficult to process for several reasons including memory demands (White, 1988), the effort required to weigh the 2 ϫ 2 instances (i.e., the conditional-probability rule) (Shaklee & Paskek, 1985), and general difficulties in processing negative information (Bassoff, 1985). That is, it is difficult to process the ''instances'' in which both the antecedent and the outcome are absent.…”

Psychology: Theory and Application

“…Bassoff (1985) argued that certain tendencies in human reasoning may interfere with whether we make accurate personal and social judgements. Bassoff was particularly interested in the way that we often fail to process negative information.…”

Self-Beliefs and Career Counseling

“…According to Rokeach, central beliefs about one's self-identify, such as &dquo;I believe I am a reasonably intelligent person,&dquo; &dquo;I like myself,&dquo; and &dquo;I am not lovable,&dquo; are the basis for other peripheral beliefs about &dquo;truth.&dquo; Because of their central position, beliefs about self-identity are especially protected, and serious challenges to them produce anxiety, emotional upheaval, and resistance. The general tendency to hold onto one's basic beliefs and to &dquo;see&dquo; only supportive evidence for them has received additional research support (e.g., Mischel, Ebbesen, & Zeiss, 1973) and is now a generally accepted supposition (Bassoff, 1985). Rokeach's (1968) research suggested central self-beliefs will be maintained regardless of whether other persons agree with them and despite contradictory evidence.…”