Conditional Reasoning: The Importance of Individual Differences

Abstract

In this study we explore the relation between different measures in psychometric ability tests (verbal comprehension and reasoning) and performance in Wason's selection task (Wason 1966, 1968). We also examined whether or not good and poor verbal comprehenders, according to a Spanish version of Gernsbacher's Battery Comprehension, differ in their performance in a experimental conditional task. The results of the experimental study reveal that the DAT-VR psychometric test is a good predictor for performance in Wason's selection task. The results also showed that yhere are no differences between good and poor verbal comprehenders. Finally, logical performance was influenced by the content's rule and the experimental instructions. These results may be explained by the semantic theories and do not support the formal theories of conditional reasoning.