Problem Solving with Limited Information.
Abstract
The goal of this contract was to study deductive thinking where information available to a reasoner was limited by virtue of being incomplete. The incompleteness in the information arose because, as is typical of most real-life situations, only a sample of all possible logical expressions that could be formulated from a number of independent dimensions were assigned truth values. Empirical studies with college students were carried out. The conclusion was reached that the instance-deduction treatment described by the previously formulated model -- which was in accord with acknowledged canons of formal logic -- could easily be acquired by untrained participants and lead to quick improvement in making practical deductions. Theoretical analysis concentrated on two comparisons in the logical structure of problems: (1) between conjunctive and disjunctive concepts; and (2) between conjunctive and disjunctive instances. Only the second distinction was found to be important.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA040657
Entities
People
- Bruce M. Ross
Organizations
- The Catholic University of America