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Probabilistic cognition in two indigenous Mayan groups.

Laura Fontanari¹, Michel Gonzalez², Giorgio Vallortigara³

¹Center for Experimental Research in Management and Economics, DCP, University IUAV of Venice, 30123 Venice, Italy;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|November 5, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Probabilistic cognition appears to be universal, independent of formal education or cultural background. This study found that indigenous Mayan groups without schooling demonstrated innate abilities in understanding chance and probability.

Keywords:

cognitive development literacy number cognition numeracy probabilistic cognition

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Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Anthropology
Psychology

Background:

The universality of probabilistic cognition is debated.
Formal education's role in developing probabilistic reasoning is unclear.
Cross-cultural studies are essential to understand cognitive universals.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate probabilistic cognition in preliterate and prenumerate indigenous populations.
To determine if formal education and cultural background influence probabilistic evaluations.
To assess the universality of understanding chance and probability.

Main Methods:

Studied preliterate and prenumerate Kaqchikel and K'iche' Mayan groups in Guatemala.
Assessed performance on tasks involving prior/posterior information, proportions, and combinations.
Compared performance with Mayan school children and Western controls.

Main Results:

Individuals without formal education accurately evaluated probabilistic information.
Performance was comparable across groups with varying educational backgrounds.
No significant differences were found between indigenous groups, school children, and Western controls.

Conclusions:

Probabilistic cognition is likely a universal human capacity.
Formal education and cultural background do not appear to be prerequisites for probabilistic reasoning.
Findings support an innate basis for understanding chance and probability across diverse populations.