Abstract
The present article examines the role of imagery in the solution of linear syllogisms and attempts to bring about a resolution between previous theories based on imagery and those based on linguistics. Syllogisms rated by subjects as evoking high imagery are solved faster and more accurately than those rated as evoking low imagery. In some cases, regarding the conflicts between imagery and linguistic theories, both theories are supported, depending on whether one uses error rate or latency as the measure of difficulty. This discrepancy is resolved by suggesting that imagery theory is more of a theory of problem solving and is best examined through the measure of error rate. Linguistic theory is more a measure of sentence processing and is best measured using latencies. This is supported by the use of syllogisms which control for linguistic parameters. In such cases, predictions of imagery theory are supported. The two opposing theories are probably more complementary than oppositional.
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Williams, R.L. Imagery and linguistic factors affecting the solution of linear syllogisms. J Psycholinguist Res 8, 123–140 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067487
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01067487