Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Another look at eliminative and enumerative behaviour in a conceptual task

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Oaksford, M. (Mike) and Chater, Nick (1994) Another look at eliminative and enumerative behaviour in a conceptual task. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 6 (2). pp. 149-169. doi:10.1080/09541449408520141 ISSN 0954-1446.

Research output not available from this repository.

Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09541449408520141

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

There are currently two competing interpretations of hypothesis testing in Wason's (1960) 2-4-6 task: the positivity heuristic (Klayman & Ha, 1987; 1989) and the counterfactual strategy (Farris & Revlin, 1989a; 1989b). We argue that an extension of the counterfactual strategy—the iterative counterfactual strategy—should be preferred over the positive test heuristic because it may resolve the paradox of why subjects succeed on this task while apparently adopting an irrational strategy. We argue that an account of hypothesis generation is required to explain these data and that only the counterfactual strategy is of help here. We discuss the strategy and the 2-4-6 task in the light of contemporary history and philosophy of science, highlighting the rational basis of the strategy and some unrealities of the task.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science
Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Human behavior
Journal or Publication Title: European Journal of Cognitive Psychology
Publisher: Psychology Press
ISSN: 0954-1446
Official Date: 1994
Dates:
DateEvent
1994Published
1 February 1993Available
Volume: 6
Number: 2
Page Range: pp. 149-169
DOI: 10.1080/09541449408520141
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item
twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us