Selection task with conditional and biconditional sentences: Interpretation and pattern of answer

Abstract

In this study we tested the hypothesis according to which sentence interpretation affects performance in the selection task, the most used task to investigate conditional reasoning. Through a between design, conditional (if p then q) and biconditional (if and only if p then q) sentences, of which participants had to establish the truth-value, were compared. The selection task was administered with a sentence-interpretation task. The results showed that the responses to the selection task widely depended on the sentence interpretation and that conditional and biconditional sentences were interpreted, at least in part, in analogous way. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.