Costello, Fintan and Watts, Paul (2018) Probability Theory Plus Noise: Descriptive Estimation and Inferential Judgment. Topics in Cognitive Science, 10. pp. 192-208. ISSN 1756-8757
Preview
PW_theoretical physics_probability.pdf
Download (282kB) | Preview
Abstract
We describe a computational model of two central aspects of people’s probabilistic reasoning:
descriptive probability estimation and inferential probability judgment. This model assumes that
people’s reasoning follows standard frequentist probability theory, but it is subject to random
noise. This random noise has a regressive effect in descriptive probability estimation, moving
probability estimates away from normative probabilities and toward the center of the probability
scale. This random noise has an anti-regressive effect in inferential judgement, however. These
regressive and anti-regressive effects explain various reliable and systematic biases seen in people’s descriptive probability estimation and inferential probability judgment. This model predicts
that these contrary effects will tend to cancel out in tasks that involve both descriptive estimation
and inferential judgement, leading to unbiased responses in those tasks. We test this model by
applying it to one such task, described by Gallistel et al. (2014). Participants’ median responses in
this task were unbiased, agreeing with normative probability theory over the full range of
responses. Our model captures the pattern of unbiased responses in this task, while simultaneously
explaining systematic biases away from normatively correct probabilities seen in other tasks.
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Probability estimation; Inferential judgment; Biases in reasoning; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Theoretical Physics |
Item ID: | 13095 |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/tops.12319 |
Depositing User: | Paul Watts |
Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2020 15:24 |
Journal or Publication Title: | Topics in Cognitive Science |
Publisher: | Wiley Online Library |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mu.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/13095 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
Repository Staff Only (login required)
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year