Microgenetic evidence for the beneficial effects of feedback and practice on belief bias

Abstract

When the validity of a deductive conclusion conflicts with its believability people often respond in a belief-biased manner. The present study examined how belief bias might be ameliorated by providing evaluative feedback on responses (i.e., simple correct/incorrect assessments). The research utilised a microgenetic method involving intensive reasoning with belief-oriented syllogisms over a condensed time period (four testing sessions over consecutive days) so as to afford an understanding of the cognitive changes arising from the provision of evaluative feedback versus opportunities for mere practice. Belief bias was markedly reduced in the feedback condition relative to the no-feedback (practice) condition. However, logical responding improved over time for both conditions, indicating that normative evaluations can benefit from mere practice with belief-oriented deductive problems. Overall, the data support dual-process theories of belief bias, which embody analytic processes that can be modulated by external factors such as the provision of evaluative feedback.