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A relevance theory of induction.
Douglas L Medin1, John D Coley, Gert Storms
1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-2710, USA. medin@northwestern.edu
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|November 19, 2003
Summary
This study introduces a relevance theory for category-based reasoning, showing people use causal and property reinforcement strategies. Findings highlight the importance of these strategies in inductive reasoning across cultures.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Inductive Reasoning
Background:
- Existing models of category-based reasoning do not fully account for how people infer conclusions from premises.
- The principle of relevance suggests that people assume premises are informative for conclusions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and test a framework theory for category-based reasoning centered on the principle of relevance.
- To investigate the role of causal scenarios and property reinforcement in inductive inferences.
Main Methods:
- Developed a framework theory based on the principle of relevance.
- Contrasted predictions with existing models and normative logic.
- Collected judgments of argument strength in three countries.
Main Results:
- Empirical evidence supports the importance of causal scenarios in category-based inferences.
- Property reinforcement strategies were found to be significant in inductive reasoning.
- Cross-cultural data confirmed the relevance framework's predictions.
Conclusions:
- The relevance framework offers a robust explanation for category-based inductive reasoning.
- Causal scenarios and property reinforcement are key mechanisms in human inference.
- The findings necessitate a re-evaluation of existing models in light of the relevance principle.