Updated: 2004-11-30
The Wason selection problem (Cosmides, 1989) has highly
different success rates depending on how it is presented. When the
problem is presented abstractly, as a problem involving alphanumeric
coding, only a few college students solve it (less than 5%
typically). However, when the same problem is presented in a concrete
context that most college students understand, success at solving the
problem improves dramatically (over 75%, typically).
The logical solution to the problems presented below is identical:
If P then Q and, If not P then not Q.
Here are the two problems; each card has information on both sides, and that the problem requires the solver only to turn over the exact number of cards to answer the question.
Concrete Question:
In its crackdown against drunk drivers, Arkansas law enforcement officials are revoking liquor licenses left and right. You are the bouncer in a Little Rock bar, and you will lose your job unless you enforce the following law:
If persons are drinking beer, they must be over 20 years old.
The cards below have information about four people sitting at a table in your bar. Each card represents one person. One side of a card tells what a person is drinking and the other side tells that person's age.
Wason selection problem, concrete version.
Indicate only those card(s) you must turn over to see if any of these people are breaking the law.
Obviously, the first and last card are turned over. Can you see why? Apply the logical rule given above.
Abstract Question
Here are the instructions.
Part of your new clerical job at the local high school is to make sure that student documents have been processed correctly. Your job is to make sure the documents conform to the following alphanumeric rule:
If persons have a D rating, then their documents must be marked code 3.
You suspect the secretary you replaced did not categorize students' documents correctly. The cards below have information about the documents of four students enrolled at the high school. Each card represents one person. One side of the card tells a person's letter rating and the other side tells that person's numerical code.
Wason selection problem, abstract version.
Indicate only those card(s) you must turn over to see if the documents of any of these students violate this rule.
You should find greatly diminished success on this version of the problem because it is abstract.