
doi: 10.1111/cogs.12605
pmid: 29687462
AbstractWe report three experiments investigating whether people's judgments about causal relationships are sensitive to the robustness orstabilityof such relationships across a range of background circumstances. In Experiment 1, we demonstrate that people are more willing to endorse causal and explanatory claims based on stable (as opposed to unstable) relationships, even when the overall causal strength of the relationship is held constant. In Experiment 2, we show that this effect is not driven by a causal generalization's actual scope of application. In Experiment 3, we offer evidence that stable causal relationships may be seen as better guides to action. Collectively, these experiments document a previously underappreciated factor that shapes people's causal reasoning: the stability of the causal relationship.
Explanation, Concept Formation, Invariance, Models, Psychological, Causality, [SHS.PHIL] Humanities and Social Sciences/Philosophy, Judgment, Sensitivity, [SCCO.PSYC] Cognitive science/Psychology, Humans, Robustness, Background conditions, Moderating variables, Stability, [SDV.NEU.SC] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Cognitive Sciences, Problem Solving
Explanation, Concept Formation, Invariance, Models, Psychological, Causality, [SHS.PHIL] Humanities and Social Sciences/Philosophy, Judgment, Sensitivity, [SCCO.PSYC] Cognitive science/Psychology, Humans, Robustness, Background conditions, Moderating variables, Stability, [SDV.NEU.SC] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Neurons and Cognition [q-bio.NC]/Cognitive Sciences, Problem Solving
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 22 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
