Document Detail


Between reasoning.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16945861     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In two experiments we investigated three-term reasoning with spatial relational assertions using the preposition between as compared to projective prepositions (such as to the left of). For each kind of assertion we distinguish the referent expression (i.e., the grammatical subject) from the relatum expression (i.e., the internal argument of the preposition; e.g., [The hedgehog]referent_expressionis to the left of [the frog]relatum_expression; [the snake]referent_expressionis between [the donkey and the deer]relatum_expression). Previous research has shown that integrating premises with projective prepositions is easier (a) when the relatum expression of the second premise denotes an element already given by the first premise (relatum = given), and (b) when the term denoting a given element precedes the term denoting a new element (given-new). Experiment 1 extended this finding to second premises with the preposition between. In Experiment 2, between figured in the first premise. In this case, participants built an initial preferred model already from the first premise, although such a premise is indeterminate with respect to the array that it describes. Since there is no need left for integrating the second premise, this premise is instead used to verify the initial model and to modify it when necessary. A further investigation of conclusion evaluation times showed that conclusions were evaluated faster when they first mentioned the element that was included most recently into the mental model of the premises. The use of premises with between permitted the separation of recency of model inclusion from recency of appearance of an element in a premise.
Authors:
Robin Hörnig; Klaus Oberauer; Andrea Weidenfeld
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)     Volume:  59     ISSN:  1747-0218     ISO Abbreviation:  Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)     Publication Date:  2006 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-09-01     Completed Date:  2006-12-04     Revised Date:  2011-10-19    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101259775     Medline TA:  Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1805-25     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of Potsdam, Allgemeine Psychologie I, Potsdam, Germany. rhoernig@uni-potsdam.de
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Comprehension / physiology
Decision Making / physiology
Female
Humans
Language
Linguistics*
Male
Models, Psychological
Problem Solving / physiology*
Reaction Time / physiology
Reading
Reproducibility of Results
Space Perception / physiology
Students / psychology
Task Performance and Analysis

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Priming and binding in and across perception and action: a correlational analysis of the internal st...
Next Document:  Understanding spatial diagram structure: an analysis of hierarchies, matrices, and networks.