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The use of heuristics in intuitive mathematical judgment

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Abstract

Anecdotal evidence points to the use of beauty as an indication of truth in mathematical problem solving. In the two experiments of the present study, we examined the use of heuristics and tested the assumption that participants use symmetry as a cue for correctness in an arithmetic verification task. We manipulated the symmetry of sets of dot pattern addition equations. Speeded decisions about the correctness of these equations led to higher endorsements for both correct and incorrect equations when the addend and sum dot patterns were symmetrical. Therefore, this effect is not due to the fact that symmetry facilitates calculation or estimation. We found systematic evidence for the use of heuristics in solving mathematical tasks, and we discuss how these findings relate to a processing-fluency account of intuition in mathematical judgment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience Group, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 8th floor, N-5009, Bergen, Norway

    Rolf Reber, Morten Brun & Karoline Mitterndorfer

Authors
  1. Rolf Reber
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  2. Morten Brun
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  3. Karoline Mitterndorfer
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Correspondence to Rolf Reber.

Additional information

This research was funded by the Norwegian Research Council, Grant 166252, to R.R.

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Reber, R., Brun, M. & Mitterndorfer, K. The use of heuristics in intuitive mathematical judgment. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 15, 1174–1178 (2008). https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.15.6.1174

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.15.6.1174

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