Complexity of categorical syllogisms: An integration of two metrics

Abstract

The complexity of categorical syllogisms was assessed using the relational complexity metric, which is based on the number of entities that are related in a single cognitive representation. This was compared with number of mental models in an experiment in which adult participants solved all 64 syllogisms. Both metrics accounted for similarly large proportions of the variance, showing that complexity depends on the number of categories that are related in a representation of the combined premises, whether represented in multiple mental models, or by a single model. This obviates the difficulty with mental models theory due to equivocal evidence for construction of more than one mental model. The “no valid conclusion” response was used for complex syllogisms that had valid conclusions. The results are interpreted as showing that the relational complexity metric can be applied to syllogistic reasoning, and can be integrated with mental models theory, which together account for a wide range of cognitive performances.

Keywords:

• Relational complexity
• Mental models
• Categorical syllogisms
• Deductive reasoning
• Reasoning strategies

Notes

¹The participant produced 20% correct responses on the easiest syllogisms compared with the group mean of 85%, 70% NVC responses compared with 7% for the group, and a response latency of 8.49 s compared with 23.77 s for the group.