Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Question 1

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate if system 2 processing can be activated by making reading a question difficult (“disfluency” is created)

Question 2

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Procedure

Answer 2

• 40 university students participated
• All participants completed a three question cognitive reflection task (CRT)
• Two groups: Fluent condition (quiz in easy to read font) and disfluent condition (quiz in difficult to read font)

Question 3

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Findings

Answer 3

• Disfluent condition performed better than fluent condition
• 90% of participants in fluent condition answered at least one question incorrectly, only 35% did in the disfluent condition
• When CRT was difficult to read, it appeared that participants engaged system 2 and answered questions correctly
• Supports idea that disfluency engages rational (systematic) thinking (system 2)

Question 4

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Strengths

Answer 4

Reliability - Easy to Replicate

Question 5

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Limitations

Answer 5

• Internal validity - Difficult font may just slow participants down, not necessarily engage system 2 thinking
• Sampling bias - University students, educated
• Cross-cultural validity - Use of currency (might need to be adapted)

Question 6

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Ethical Considerations

Answer 6

• Highly ethical study

Question 7

Alter and Oppenheimer, Epley and Eyre Study (cognitive)

Research Method

Answer 7

Experiment