Psychological Test

[Zosimus]

Because of Labor Day, I wasn’t able to post yesterday and won’t be able to post much today.

However, I was rather interested in the results of a certain psychological test and so I’ve decided to post it here to see which choice those who debate with me would choose.

According to the test you are shown:

and you are told “All cards with a vowel on one side have an even number on the other.”

Which card or cards do you turn over to determine whether this statement is true?

 

[lasthero]

Which card or cards do you turn over to determine whether this statement is true?

All of them.

 

[selfinflikted]

All of them.

Same.

 

[Elendur]

Edited post to hide spoiler
All of them.

Original answer was "All but D".

 

[Notedstrangeperson]

OK... here's my pitiful attempt to be clever.

If I could only choose one card, it would be A.

Because the statement says "All cards with a vowel on one side have an even number on the other." There's nothing saying that all card with an even number must have a vowel on the other side, or that all cards with constonants on one side DON'T have an even number on the other.

I guess you could turn over the card with 7 on it, but it could have a constonant on the other side, which wouldn't really confirm or disprove the statement.

So to confirm it, I'd only need to look at the card with the vowel.

 

[EternalDragon]

A

 

[Oncedeceived]

I think A. Whoops.. and 4

 

[bhsmte]

Since I have 4 cards available, I turn them all over to determine if the statement can be verified with the available cards.

 

[46AND2]

all, except the 4.

potential falsifications:

The A could have an odd number or any letter on the other side
The four has no potential falsifications
The seven could have a vowel on the other side
The D could have a vowel on the other side

 

[selfinflikted]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

 

[bhsmte]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

That is the key to the psychological test. Find what your mind tells you that you are looking for and then stop looking.

 

[Notedstrangeperson]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

Meh, 'cause everyone says "turn them all over".

 

[lesliedellow]

Turn over the seven, and if the letter on the other side is a vowel, the proposition is false.

Turn over the A, and if there is an odd number on the other side, the proposition is false.

The four doesn't matter, because nothing is said about what even numbers must have on the other side.

Likewise, the D doesn't matter, because nothing is said about what consonants must have on the other side.

 

[selfinflikted]

That is the key to the psychological test. Find what your mind tells you that you are looking for and then stop looking.

I had a feeling that was it. I'm glad I "passed" this test.

 

[46AND2]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

Because the 4 has no potential to falsify the statement, anyway.

 

[Elendur]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

It's still a matter of efficiency, since it's pretty much a game. One ties a cost to the additional work of turning too many cards, even though it's imaginary.

We've been kind of trained from early childhood to spot rules in games, to the degree where we ascribe additional rules to situations where they're not but they feel as if they should be there.

I'd also say that it's the old "I could see this better than you, therefore I'm smarter".

 

[Elendur]

Because the 4 has no potential to falsify the statement, anyway.

Good catch

 

[bhsmte]

I am wondering why those of you who didn't choose "all cards" wouldn't flip them all over anyway, since there is no limit to how many one can flip?

The test is designed to identify potential confirmation bias. If someone just picks the A, or the 4, they are attempting to confirm the statement as opposed to ruling out other possibilities.

It can likely also be used, to determine whether someone is an "analytical thinker, vs an "intuitive thinker".

 

[bhsmte]

Good catch

Indeed, that was a good catch.

 

[HitchSlap]

I'll go ahead and flip all four and check my data with your assertion and see if it jives.