Henrik Singmann Karl Christoph Klauer Sieghard Beller New results on the dual-source model of probabilistic conditional reasoning Henrik Singmann Karl Christoph Klauer Sieghard Beller
Conditional Reasoning A conditional is a rule with the form: If p then q. Conditional inferences usually consist of the conditional rule (major premise), a minor premise (e.g., p) and the conclusion (e.g., q). e.g.: If a person drinks a lot of coke then the person will gain weight. A person drinks a lot of coke. Conclusion: The person will gain weight. 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
4 Conditional Inferences Modus Ponens (MP): If p then q. p Conclusion: q Affirmation of the consequent (AC): If p then q. q Conclusion: p Modus Tollens (MT): If p then q. Not q Conclusion: Not p Denial of the antecedent (DA): If p then q. Not p Conclusion: Not q 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
4 Conditional Inferences Modus Ponens (MP): If p then q. p Conclusion: q Affirmation of the consequent (AC): If p then q. q Conclusion: p Modus Tollens (MT): If p then q. Not q Conclusion: Not p Denial of the antecedent (DA): If p then q. Not p Conclusion: Not q valid in standard logic (i.e., truth of premises entails truth of conclusion) NOT valid in standard logic (i.e., truth of premises does NOT entail truth of conclusion) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Dual-Source Model Formal model for probabilistic conditional reasoning (Klauer, Beller, & Hütter, 2010) . Reasoners integrate two types of information: Background knowledge: Conditional probability of the conclusion given minor premise. E.g., Given p, how likely is q? P(q|p) Form-based evidence: Subjective probability to which an inference is seen as logically warranted by the form of the inference. E.g., How likely is the conclusion given that the inference is MP? 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Example Item: Knowledge Phase Observation: A balloon is pricked with a needle. How likely is it that it will pop? 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Example Item: Knowledge Phase Observation: A balloon is pricked with a needle. How likely is it that it will pop? X 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Example Item: Rule Phase Rule: If a balloon is pricked with a needle then it will pop. Observation: A balloon is pricked with a needle. How likely is it that it will pop? 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Example Item: Rule Phase Rule: If a balloon is pricked with a needle then it will pop. Observation: A balloon is pricked with a needle. How likely is it that it will pop? X 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
↑ conditional present ↓ Klauer, Beller, & Hütter (2010): Experiment 1 (n = 15) different lines represent different conditionals (i.e., different contents/items) ↑ conditional absent ↓ ↑ conditional present ↓ new data (n = 29) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
↑ conditional present ↓ Klauer, Beller, & Hütter (2010): Experiment 1 (n = 15) different lines represent different contents of the conditional The presence of the rule increases participants' estimates of the probability of the conclusion. Especially so for the formally valid inferences MP and MT. ↑ conditional absent ↓ ↑ conditional present ↓ new data (n = 29) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
The Knowledge Phase Participants estimate a conclusion given minor premise only, e.g., Given p, how likely is q? Response should reflect conditional probability of conclusion given minor premise, e.g., P(q|p) "Inference" "MP" "MT" "AC" "DA" p q ¬q ¬p q p ¬p ¬q Response reflects P(q|p) P(¬p|¬q) P(p|q) P(¬q|¬p) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Formalizing the Knowledge Phase Joint probability distribution over P(p), P(q), and their negations per content: Provide the conditional probabilities, e.g.: P(MP) = P(q|p) = P(p q) / P(q) Three independent parameters describe the joint probability distribution (e.g., P(p), P(q), and P(¬q|p), Oaksford, Chater, & Larkin, 2000). q ¬q p P(p q) P(p ¬q) ¬p P(¬p q) P(¬p ¬q) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Formalizing the Dual-Source Model Response + × (1 – λ) ξ(C,x) × λ τ(x) + (1 – τ(x)) × ξ(C,x) knowledge-based form-based C = content (1 – 4) x = inference (MP, MT, AC, & DA) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Research Questions Does the conditional only affect the form based component? Manipulation of the form: "If … then …" versus "If … then and only then …" What is the effect of speaker expertise? Manipulation of who utters the conditional: expert versus non-expert 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Experiment 1 Does the conditional only affect the form based component? Participants work on conditional/biconditional reasoning tasks (n = 31): Session (knowledge phase): Problems without conditional or biconditional rule. Session (rule phase I): Problems with conditional rule (2 ×) or biconditional rule (2 ×). Session (rule phase II): Problems with conditional rule or biconditional rule (mapping conditional-biconditional flipped). Two additional control conditions: Participants work on the problems without rule 3 times (n = 25). Participants work on the problems with rules 2 times (n = 29). 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
What is the Effect of the rule? Four contents orthogonally cross two types of defeaters (e.g., Cummins, 1995): disablers and alternatives If a predator is hungry, then it will search for prey. If a predator is hungry, then and only then it will search for prey. (few disablers, few alternatives) If a balloon is pricked with a needle, then it will quickly lose air. If a balloon is pricked with a needle, then and only then it will quickly lose air. (few disablers, many alternatives) If a girl has sexual intercourse, then she will be pregnant. If a girl has sexual intercourse, then and only then she will be pregnant. (many disablers, few alternatives) If a person drinks a lot of coke, then the person will gain weight. If a person drinks a lot of coke, then and only then the person will gain weight. (many disablers, many alternatives) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Estimating the dual-source model 48 data points per participants 20 parameters: 4 * 3 parameters underlying knowledge (ξ, xsi) 2 * 4 parameters for rule weight (λ, lambda) and form (τ, tau) Fitted by minimizing squared deviations. Mean R² = .92 (.73 - .99) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Rule weight parameters | Effect | df | MSE | F | η² | p | |----------+-------+------+------+------+------| | lambda | 1, 30 | 0.03 | 1.31 | .04 | .26 | 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
| Effect | df | MSE | F | η² | p | |---------------------+-------------+------+-----------+------+-------| | rule_type | 1, 30 | 0.1 | 8.46 ** | .04 | .007 | | inference | 2.13, 63.82 | 0.14 | 1.19 | .02 | .31 | | rule_type:inference | 2.56, 76.87 | 0.13 | 23.15 *** | .26 | <.001 | 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Experiment 1: Summary Observed behavior shows expected differences between two types of rules. Dual-source model adequately captures those differences: Only form-based (τ) component differs across the rules Weighting of rule (λ) is not affected Knowledge component adequately captures knowledge phase 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Experiment 2 What is the effect of speaker expertise? (Stevenson & Over, 2001) Participants work on conditional reasoning tasks (n = 47): Session (knowledge phase): 6 problems without conditional. Session (rule phase): 6 problems with conditional, either uttered by expert (3 ×) or by non-expert (3 ×). Two additional control conditions: Participants work on the problems without rule 2 times (n = 46). Participants work on the problems with rule 1 time (n = 45). 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Exp 2: Materials Stimuli selected from a list of 20 (web prestudy): Wenn Anne viel Petersilie isst, dann verbessert sich ihr Eisenwert im Blut. Ernährungswissenschaftler versus Drogerieangestellte Wenn Katharina 10 cm wächst, dann scheitert ihr Ballettpartner an der Hebefigur mit ihr. Balletttänzer versus Ballettbesucher Wenn das Haarshampoo "Fresh and Soft" aus dem Sortiment der Drogerie genommen wird, dann sinken die Jahresumsatzzahlen. Filialleiter versus Kassierer Wenn der Airbus A380 durch Turbulenzen fliegt, dann schwankt die Spannung im Stromnetz der Maschine. Pilot versus Fluggast Wenn die Menschen in den Industrienationen weiterhin so viel CO2 ausstoßen, dann wird der Golfstrom zum Erliegen kommen. Umweltwissenschaftler versus Zeitungsleser Wenn Lisa in Hedgefonds investiert hat, dann verliert sie ihr investiertes Geld. Vermögensberater versus Banklehrling Wenn Miroslav Kloses Lactatwert im Normbereich ist, dann spielt er jedes Spiel der Fußballnationalmannschaft. Der ärztliche Betreuer der Nationalmannschaft versus ein Journalist 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
dual-source 48 data points per participants 26 parameters: 6 * 3 parameters underlying knowledge (ξ, xsi) 2 * 4 parameters for rule weight (λ, lambda) and form (τ, tau) Fitted by minimizing squared deviations. Mean R² = .85 (.27 - 1.00) 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Rule weight parameters | Effect | df | MSE | F | η² | p | |---------+-------+------+--------+-----+------| | lambda | 1, 46 | 0.03 | 5.17 * | .1 | .03 | 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
| Effect | df | MSE | F | η² | p | |----------------+--------------+------+---------+-------+-------| | role | 1, 46 | 0.12 | 0.28 | <.001 | .60 | | inference | 2.62, 120.54 | 0.14 | 4.58 ** | .04 | .006 | | role:inference | 2.86, 131.74 | 0.12 | 1.72 | .02 | .17 | 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Experiment 1: Summary Observed behavior shows expected differences between different levels of speaker expertise. Dual-source model adequately captures those differences: Only weighting of rule (λ) differs in expected direction: Rule weighted stronger for experts Form-based (τ) component differs across the rules Knowledge component captures knowledge phase Speaker expertise does not affect how individuals perceive logical form, but only weighting of sources. 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model
Discussion Dual-source model is validated and adequate model for disentangling cognitive processes in probabilistic conditional reasoning. Dual-source model can even handle unfamiliar inferences. Probabilistic conditional reasoning doesn't seem to be psychologically "special". Not all factors surpressing inferences (speaker expertise) do so via changing the perceived logical correctness. 20.11.2018 Dual-Source Model