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Conditional Reasoning With False Premises Facilitates the Transition Between Familiar and Abstract Reasoning
Author(s) -
Markovits Henry,
LortieForgues Hugues
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01526.x
Subject(s) - premises , verbal reasoning , psychology , psychology of reasoning , deductive reasoning , qualitative reasoning , analytic reasoning , cognitive psychology , cognition , artificial intelligence , computer science , neuroscience , political science , law
reasoning is critical for science and mathematics, but is very difficult. In 3 studies, the hypothesis that alternatives generation required for conditional reasoning with false premises facilitates abstract reasoning is examined. Study 1 ( n = 372) found that reasoning with false premises improved abstract reasoning in 12‐ to 15‐year‐olds. Study 2 ( n = 366) found a positive effect of simply generating alternatives, but only in 19‐year‐olds. Study 3 ( n = 92) found that 9‐ to 11‐year‐olds were able to respond logically with false premises, whereas no such ability was observed in 6‐ to 7‐year‐olds. Reasoning with false premises was found to improve reasoning with semiabstract premises in the older children. These results support the idea that alternatives generation with false premises facilitates abstract reasoning.