Figural Effects In Syllogistic Reasoning: Evidence From Eye-movement

Research has shown that a major influence on performance with syllogistic reasoning derives from their figure. Figure can affect performance accuracy, processing time and directionality preferences for term orders in conclusions. The directionality biases seen in generated conclusions take the form of a preference for A-C conclusion-term orders with AB-BC arguments and C-A orders with BA-CB arguments.However, seldom few studies have employed time-based measures, so we used eyemovement tracking to analyze aspects of on-line attentional processing to reveal the figure effect in syllogistic reasoning, employing both conclusion-evaluation and conclusion-production paradigm,then test the interpretation of each theory.The first experiment is 2×2×2 three factor within-subject design under conclusion-eval-uation paradigm, in which we studied the influence of figure and validity, directionality of conclusion.The second experiment is single factor within-subject design under conclusion-production paradigm,in which the influence of figure was studied. All subjects are volunteers,they came from FujianNormal Univesity,30 undergraduate in experiment 1,33 in experiment 2. The experimental process is controlled by Experiment-Builder. The results are as follows:(1) There is no obvious difference of reasoning score and total fixation time under both conclusion-evaluation and conclusion-production paradigm;(2) Participants preferred conclusions for figure AB-BC in the order A-C and for figure BA-CB in the order C-A.They got higer score on the categorical syllogisms which conclusion is with preferred direction, but used less total fixation time;(3) They got higer score on the categorical syllogisms which conclusion is valid,but used less total fixation time;(4) Participants used more fixation time on the "All" premise than the "Some" premise of the first figue(BA-CB) during the early processing,however,the effect was opposite to the fourth figure (AB-BC), and it is more obvious under the conclusion-evaluation paradigm.(5) Under the conclusion-evaluation paradigm, the interactive effect of figure and conclusion directionality was obvious during the later processing.And during the later processing for every Area of Interest,the interactive effect of figure and conclusion validlity; Under the conclusion-evaluation paradigm,figure affected the later processing for every Area of Interest.(6) Under the conclusion-evaluation paradigm,the difficulty of the categorical syllogisms was depended by the types of conclusion.