title: Proportional reasoning as a heuristic-based process: time constraint and dual task considerations.
abstract: The present study interprets the overuse of proportional solution methods from a dual process framework. Dual process theories claim that analytic operations involve time-consuming executive processing, whereas heuristic operations are fast and automatic. In two experiments to test whether proportional reasoning is heuristic-based, the participants solved "proportional" problems, for which proportional solution methods provide correct answers, and "nonproportional" problems known to elicit incorrect answers based on the assumption of proportionality. In Experiment 1, the available solution time was restricted. In Experiment 2, the executive resources were burdened with a secondary task. Both manipulations induced an increase in proportional answers and a decrease in correct answers to nonproportional problems. These results support the hypothesis that the choice for proportional methods is heuristic-based.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Center for Instructional Psychology and Technology, University of Leuven, Belgium. ellen.gillard@ped.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gillard
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Dooren
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaeken
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verschaffel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D011932:Reading