Accession Number:

ADA056668

Title:

What Makes a Good Explanation

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

DECISIONS AND DESIGNS INC MCLEAN VA

Personal Author(s):

• Fischhoff, Baruch
• Fulero, Solomon

Report Date:

1977-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

53.0

Abstract:

A correlational design was used to investigate the subjective criterion which people invoke when asked which of the following causes, C sub 1 or C sub 2, makes a better explanation of event E. The results are discussed in terms of the descriptive validity of attribution theory, the psychology of explanation and the validity of peoples intuitive explanations.

Descriptors:

• *DECISION MAKING
• *REASONING
• BIAS
• CONDITIONED RESPONSE
• JUDGEMENT(PSYCHOLOGY)
• SELECTION
• STANDARDS

Subject Categories:

• Psychology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE