What must a psychological theory of reasoning explain? Comment on Barrouillet, Gauffroy, and Lecas (2008).
In this comment, it is argued that the modification of mental models theory of conditional inference proposed by P. Barrouillet, C. Gauffroy, and J.-F. Lecas to deal with truth value gaps merely patches up a problem in the theory, rather than accomplishing the fundamental and systematic revision that is necessary. It is argued that P. Barrouillet et al.'s modified mental model theory fails to meet the criteria of good theory of reasoning by invoking an algorithmic-level distinction to resolve a failing in the computational-level theory of the task.
Oberauer
Klaus
K
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. k.oberauer@bristol.ac.uk
Oaksford
Mike
M
D006801:Humans; D011340:Problem Solving; D011582:Psychological Theory