A Rational Analysis of the Selection Task as Optimal Data Selection

Experimental data on human reasoning in hypothesis-testing tasks is reassessed in light of a Bayesian model of optimal data selection in inductive hypothesis testing. The rational analysis provided by the model suggests that reasoning in such tasks may be rational rather than subject to systematic b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychological review Vol. 101; no. 4; p. 608
Main Authors Oaksford, Mike, Chater, Nick
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 01.10.1994
Subjects
Bayesian Statistics
Hypothesis Testing
Induction
Rational Decision Making
Statistical Bias
Thinking Skills
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Summary:Experimental data on human reasoning in hypothesis-testing tasks is reassessed in light of a Bayesian model of optimal data selection in inductive hypothesis testing. The rational analysis provided by the model suggests that reasoning in such tasks may be rational rather than subject to systematic bias. (SLD)
ISSN:0033-295X
DOI:10.1037/0033-295x.101.4.608