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The mental model theory of spatial reasoning re‐examined: The role of relevance in premise order
Author(s) -
Henst JeanBaptiste
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.536
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8295
pISSN - 0007-1269
DOI - 10.1348/000712699161279
Subject(s) - premise , relevance (law) , psychology , position (finance) , order (exchange) , mental model , indeterminacy (philosophy) , cognitive psychology , cognitive science , epistemology , philosophy , finance , political science , law , economics
The effect of premise order on spatial reasoning was investigated using a paradigm introduced by Byrne & Johnson‐Laird in 1989. Three kinds of problems were developed: the first of these was expected to prompt one mental model, whereas the second and third were expected to prompt two mental models. The two‐model problems differed from each other by the position (first or last) of a premise which was responsible for an indeterminacy. On the basis of Sperber & Wilson's Relevance theory, published in 1986 and 1995, it was predicted and observed that a two‐model problem with the crucial premise in the last position was easier than a two‐model problem with the crucial premise in the first position. Moreover, it was predicted and observed that the two‐model problem with the crucial premise in the last position was as easy as the one‐model problem. Implications of these results for the standard mental model theory of spatial reasoning are discussed.