The effect of perspective-taking on reasoning about strong and weak belief-relevant arguments

This study investigated whether perspective-taking reduces belief bias independently of argument strength. Belief bias occurs when individuals evaluate belief-consistent arguments more favourably than belief-inconsistent arguments. Undergraduates (n = 93) read arguments that varied with respect to belief-consistency (i.e., belief-consistent or belief-inconsistent) and strength (i.e., strong or weak) about the topic of climate change. After participants read each argument, those in the perspective-taking condition rated the argument's strength from a perspective of a climate scientist and then from their own perspectives, whereas those in the no perspective-taking condition only rated the arguments from their own perspectives. Perspective-taking eliminated belief bias for weak arguments, but not for strong arguments. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed, and directions for future research are provided.

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Work Title The effect of perspective-taking on reasoning about strong and weak belief-relevant arguments
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Matthew T. McCrudden
  2. Ashleigh Barnes
  3. Erin M. McTigue
  4. Casey Welch
  5. Eilidh MacDonald
Keyword
  1. Belief bias
  2. Myside bias
  3. Perspective-taking
  4. Reasoning
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Thinking and Reasoning
Publication Date September 30, 2016
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2016.1234411
Deposited August 09, 2023

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Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added T_R_2017_Perspective_taking___belief_bias.pdf
  • Added Creator Matthew T. McCrudden
  • Added Creator Ashleigh Barnes
  • Added Creator Erin M. McTigue
  • Added Creator Casey Welch
  • Added Creator Eilidh MacDonald
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Belief bias, Myside bias, Perspective-taking, Reasoning
    Publication Date
    • 2017-04-03
    • 2016-09-30
  • Updated