Model Construction and Elaboration in Spatial Linear Syllogisms

Abstract

When faced with linear syllogisms, reasoners usually construct an integrated spatial representation of the premise content. As a consequence multi-model problems are mon difficult than one-model problems, because the representation is more complex in multi-model problems. In the present chapter, the question is raised whether three-model problems are indeed more difficult than two-model problems. Data show that there is a reliable difference between two-model and three-model problems. However, the difference is so small that it cannot be explained by assuming that the reasoner builds an explicit representation of all three models. Overall, the last premise, the one that discloses the multi-model nature of the problem, requires more reading and processing time than other premises, and this difference is larger in multi-model than in one-model problems. The data suggest that the representation constructed leaves the additional models implicit by entering a marker that can be easily fleshed out when needed.