Original scientific paper

Directionality of conditionals in the context of visual priming

Igor Bajšanski ; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rijeka
Pavle Valerjev ; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rijeka
Tanja Gulan ; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rijeka

Abstract

The theory of mental models is used to explain the differences in the effectiveness when deriving different typesof conclusions such as modus ponens (MP) and modus tollens (MT). This difference is seen as a result of differentnumber of mental models that are required in order to construct a valid conclusion. The theory explains mentalmodels as a type of mental representations that can have abstract content, but can also contain perceptive and spatialinformation. These models are content and context sensitive, e.g., directionality of the conditionals affects the effectivenessof conclusions alongside the number of models required. Contemporary studies have shown that manycognitive processes (e.g., the understanding of sentences) have a significant perceptual basis. Research presentedhere tested the possibility of perceptual grounding of deductive reasoning. Prime stimulus served as a context formental model construction. The direction of conditionals (either the antecedent preceded the consequent or viceversa) and spatial orientation expressed in the content of the conditional have been used as critical perceptual features.A four-factor experiment was carried out with perceptual priming, conditional direction, and the conclusiontype manipulated as independent factors. The participants’ task was to decide as quickly as possible whether thepresented conditional conclusion was right or wrong. Visual priming, as well as conditional directionality, showeda significant effect on both MP and MT types of conclusions. It is interesting that the effect of perceptual primingfor MT was in the opposite direction when compared to the MP one. These findings support the assumption thatmental models could be perceptually grounded. It also implies that mental models can be manipulated through theperceptive context.

Keywords

reasoning; conditionals; directionality of conditionals; visual priming; mental models

Hrčak ID:

116341

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/116341

Publication date:

28.12.2013.

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