逻辑训练对不同理性思维方式大学生三段论推理的影响

Impact of Logic Training on the Syllogism Reasoning of College Students with Different Ways of Rational Thinking

推理中的信念偏差,是指当个体的知识信念与逻辑结论一致时(非冲突任务)会促进逻辑任务的解决,不一致时(冲突任务)则起着阻碍作用。本研究考察了逻辑训练对不同理性思维方式大学生三段论推理的影响。结果显示:(1)逻辑训练可以提高个体三段论推理的成绩;(2)训练前后非冲突任务的正确率均高于冲突任务,但训练后该差异趋势缩小;(3)训练对低理性思维方式个体在冲突任务正确率的提高效果更好。这表明逻辑训练可以有效地减弱推理中的信念偏差现象,且对低理性思维方式个体的效果尤其明显。

As one kind of simple deductive reasoning, the syllogism reasoning contains a premise which is made up of two nature judgments and a conclusion of one nature judgment. Previous studies of syllogism reasoning have mainly concentrated on how individual factors(such as belief bias, mode of thinking, etc.) would influence the syllogism reasoning while less emphasis has been laid on the external factors. In recent years, the influence of logic training on reasoning has attracted researchers’ attention. Some researchers have previously found that logic training would not improve the scores of syllogism reasoning, while other researchers achieved completely different results. One potential reason for the controversial results may be the ignorance of individual differences in previous studies. Therefore, on the basis of existing research, the current study discusses the impact of logic training on the syllogism reasoning of college students with different rational thinking modes.A total of 105 college students(47 male and 58 female) were randomly selected to participate in the experiment. Before the experiment, each of them filled in a scale of Rational – Experiential Inventor(REI-40). Based on the scores of REI-40, we chose the highest 1/3(N = 35) and lowest 1/3(N = 35) as the high and low rational thinking groups respectively to conduct the experiment. After that, a 50-question syllogism reasoning test was carried out. The syllogism reasoning included two formats(AC-BC format and BC-AB format), and only the correctness of AC-BC format was examined. Then, the logic training was carried out, and participants were asked to do another 50-question syllogism reasoning test after the training.The results suggested that(1) The average response time of individual’s syllogism reasoning with high rational thinking mode was faster than those with low rational thinking mode. The average accuracy of syllogism reasoning on non-conflicting task type problems was significantly higher than that of conflicting task type problem. Logic training could improve the average response time and correction rate of individual’s syllogism reasoning.(2) The average accuracy of syllogism reasoning on non-conflicting task type problems was still significantly higher than that of conflicting task type problem after logic training.(3) Logic training could improve the average correction rate of individual’s conflicting task type with low rational thinking mode. This meant that logic training could significantly improve individual’s reasoning performance, however, it could not eliminate the influence of belief bias on reasoning. Moreover, logic training had more obvious effect on improving individual’s reasoning performance with low rational thinking mode.In a word, this study suggests that there are individual differences in the impact of logic training on syllogism reasoning, which is helpful for further elucidating the impact of logic training on individual syllogism reasoning in different rational thinking modes. From the experimental results, it can be seen that logic training can weaken the influence of belief bias on reasoning, and effectively improve the reasoning performance of individuals with lower rational thinking mode. However, the effect of improving individual with higher rational thinking mode is not obvious. Further research can use different training methods to improve the reasoning performance of individuals with higher rational thinking patterns.