Talk:Wason selection task
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[edit] Good/Evil, Good/Bad philosophies failure?
I think what one learns from this is that not all things in life come in black and white, opposites. If something means something, it doesn't necessarily mean that the opposite of that something means the opposite of the other somethling. neat.
It is therefore logical to assume that people coming from backgrounds where "black and white" aren't preached may have emmensly higher possibilities to get it right. Can someone check what backgrounds those test subjects had? --161.76.99.106 11:36, 22 March 2006 (UTC)
- I think that you might be missing the point. The key with the Wason selection task is that we can re-phrase the task and ensure that nearly 100 % of the students get the question correct.
- In particular, you set up 4 tables at a bar: One where every body is old, one where everybody is young, one where no one is drinking alcohol, and one where there are lots of beers. Now consider the law: If someone is under 21, then they must not drink alcohol. Nearly all the students will get this question correct. Yet this question is isomorphic to the original question concerning numbers/colors.
- —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.136.211.147 (talk • contribs) 02:33, 10 April 2007 (UTC).
[edit] References
I've added a reference to the Evolutionary psychology paper describing the task which is in a book, but I am unsure how to do this properly, so I would be grateful if someone could do that!
[edit] diagram caption is incorrect
The caption establishes an equivalence relation:
"The subject must choose which of these cards must be turned over to test that all cards with an even number on one side have red on the other side."
This requires a different selection answer, as the 8, brown, and red cards must be turned over to guarantee equivalence. It is an implication in the article text:
"if a card shows an even number on one face, then its opposite face shows a primary colour"
The subtlety of implication is much of the point of the Wason selection task. I propose changing the caption to the following:
"The subject must choose which of these cards must be turned over to test that if a card shows an even number on one face, then its opposite face shows a primary colour."
--Metaxis (talk) 05:20, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
