Conflict between incompetences and influence of a low‐expertise source in hypothesis testing

Abstract

Abstract In a 2–4–4–like reasoning task, 69 subjects tested hypotheses following exposure to a low‐expertise source proposing an alternative hypothesis. Subjects compared self‐ and source's competence either independently or interdependently. Results show that interdependence leads subjects to assert self‐validity and the source's invalidity, and to test hypotheses through confirmation. Independence produces a conflict between incompetences, i.e. doubt concerning self‐ and source's validity, leading to disconfirmatory testing.