Representation and Process in Transitive Inference.
Abstract
This article compares three theories of transitive inference applied to the solution of linear syllogisms: a spatial theory, a linguistic theory, and a new mixed linguistic-spatial theory. Each theory is expressed in terms of an information-processing (flow-chart) model, and a mathematical model that quantifies the information-processing model. The mathematical models are tested in their ability to account for latency data from four experiments. The tests overwhelmingly support the mixed theory. This support holds over varied modes of problem presentation, adjectives, sessions, and subjects. The duration of each component process in the mixed theory of estimated, and its contribution to total solution time assessed. Then the mixed theory is shown to account for most patterns of individual-difference data. Finally, the theory is shown to be consistent with a variety of data obtained in previous investigations of transitive inference. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 30, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA062586
Entities
People
- Robert Sternberg
Organizations
- Yale University