Using dual-process theory and analogical transfer to explain facilitation on a hypothetico-deductive reasoning task

Abstract

Using the analogical transfer paradigm, the present study investigated the competing explanations of Girotto and Legrenzi (Psychological Research 51: 129-135, 1993) and Griggs, Platt, Newstead, and Jackson (Thinking and Reasoning 4: 1-14, 1998) for facilitation on the SARS version of the THOG problem, a hypothetico-deductive reasoning task. Girotto and Legrenzi argue that facilitation is based on logical analysis of the task [System 2 reasoning in Evans's (Trends in Cognitive Sciences 7: 454-459, 2003) dual-process account of reasoning] while Griggs et al. maintain that facilitation is due to an attentional heuristic produced by the wording of the problem (System 1 reasoning). If Girotto and Legrenzi are correct, then System 2 reasoning, which is volitional and responsible for deductive reasoning, should be elicited, and participants should comprehend the solution principle of the THOG task and exhibit analogical transfer. However, if Griggs et al. are correct, then System 1 reasoning, which is responsible for heuristic problem solving strategies such as an attentional heuristic, should occur, and participants should not abstract the solution principle and transfer should not occur. Significant facilitation (68 and 82% correct) was only observed for the two SARS source problems, but significant analogical transfer did not occur. This lack of transfer suggests that System 1 reasoning was responsible for the facilitation observed in the SARS problem, supporting Griggs et al.'s attentional heuristic explanation. The present results also underscore the explanatory value of using analogical transfer rather than facilitation as the criterion for problem understanding.

Five-year review of an international clinical research-training program

“… 8 System 1 is associated with fast, intuitive, and usually unconscious thinking, 9 and is used for complex cognitive tasks, such as making quick decisions, based on a problem. 9 , 10 System 1 is evident when assessing the question: “Which statistical test do you use to compare two means?” The answer will simply depend on basic knowledge of the criteria that are used to select a statistical test (eg, type of variable, study outcome, and possible need to adjust for covariates). Although system 1 is the principal operating system, it is frequently associated with bias 8 and informal logical fallacies, requiring further correction and override by system 2.…”