When can we say ‘if’? Export

@article{citeulike:4070814, abstract = {In this study, we focus on the conditions which permit people to assert a conditional statement of the form 'if p then q ' with conversational relevance. In a broadly decision-theoretic approach, also drawing on hypothetical thinking theory [Evans, J. St. B. T. (2007). Hypothetical thinking: Dual processes in reasoning and judgement . Hove, UK: Psychology Press.], we predicted that conditional tips and promises would appear more useful and persuasive and be more likely to encourage an action p when (a) the conditional link from p to q was stronger, (b) the cost of the action p was lower and (c) the benefit of the consequence q was higher. Similarly, we predicted that conditional warnings and threats would be seen as more useful and persuasive and more likely to discourage an action p when (a) the conditional link from p to q was stronger, (b) the benefit of the action p was lower and (c) the cost of the consequence q was higher. All predictions were strongly confirmed, suggesting that such conditionals may best be asserted when they are of high relevance to the goals of the listener.}, author = {Evans, J. and Neilens, H. and Handley, S. and Over, D.}, citeulike-article-id = {4070814}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2008.02.001}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0010027708000310}, doi = {10.1016/j.cognition.2008.02.001}, issn = {00100277}, journal = {Cognition}, keywords = {dyfolse, hypothetical}, month = {July}, number = {1}, pages = {100--116}, posted-at = {2009-03-06 11:03:57}, priority = {2}, title = {When can we say 'if'?}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2008.02.001}, volume = {108}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:4070814 L3 - citeulike-article-id:4070814 N2 - In this study, we focus on the conditions which permit people to assert a conditional statement of the form ‘if p then q ’ with conversational relevance. In a broadly decision-theoretic approach, also drawing on hypothetical thinking theory [Evans, J. St. B. T. (2007). Hypothetical thinking: Dual processes in reasoning and judgement . Hove, UK: Psychology Press.], we predicted that conditional tips and promises would appear more useful and persuasive and be more likely to encourage an action p when (a) the conditional link from p to q was stronger, (b) the cost of the action p was lower and (c) the benefit of the consequence q was higher. Similarly, we predicted that conditional warnings and threats would be seen as more useful and persuasive and more likely to discourage an action p when (a) the conditional link from p to q was stronger, (b) the benefit of the action p was lower and (c) the cost of the consequence q was higher. All predictions were strongly confirmed, suggesting that such conditionals may best be asserted when they are of high relevance to the goals of the listener. IS - 1 JF - Cognition SN - 00100277 EP - 116 TI - When can we say ‘if’? VL - 108 SP - 100 KW - dyfolse KW - hypothetical AU - Evans, J AU - Neilens, H AU - Handley, S AU - Over, D PY - 2008/07// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2008.02.001 ER -