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Stephen G Prunier Dissertation.pdf (1.21 MB)

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Individual Differences in the Mental Representation of Verbal Probability Expressions: The Role of Numeracy

Prunier, Stephen G
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1501800053986437

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Psychology - Experimental.
Despite preferring numerical information, the majority of people choose to communicate using verbal probability expressions even though they’re considered less precise than numerical probabilities. While verbal probabilities have been heavily researched, little work has been done to assess individual differences in how verbal probability expressions are interpreted. Based on the results of a preliminary investigation, the goal of this project was to explore how individual differences influence translations of verbal probability expressions. The first study had participants translate 24 verbal probability expressions by giving either a single percentage that best fit the word, or a range of percentages. The results found only numeracy, not verbal intelligence, GPA, or handedness, influenced the mean range size participants assigned to the verbal probability expressions. The second study focused on different aspects of numeracy, including subjective numeracy and symbolic number mapping in addition to the previously tested objective numeracy, to determine which one(s) were most predictive of verbal probability translations. The results of the study showed only objective numeracy predicted the mean range size participants assigned to the verbal probability expressions. The results suggest only numerical ability is related to the translations of the verbal probability expressions suggesting either people with higher numerical ability represent verbal probability differently or that the task itself is dependent on numerical ability. The results of the study also replicated previous research examining the relationship between the three different types of numeracy and extended those findings to a different domain of decision making research. Future studies should continue to investigate additional individual differences in cognitive processing that may help us better understand how people process verbal probabilities and in turn allow us to tailor messages more effectively in the future.
John Jasper (Advisor)
Christman Stephen (Committee Member)
Rose Jason (Committee Member)
Levine Jason (Committee Member)
Coleman Douglas (Committee Member)
80 p.
Psychology
Verbal Probability; Objective Numeracy; Individual Differences; Subjective Numeracy; Symbolic Number Mapping

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Prunier, S. G. (2017). Individual Differences in the Mental Representation of Verbal Probability Expressions: The Role of Numeracy [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1501800053986437

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Prunier, Stephen. Individual Differences in the Mental Representation of Verbal Probability Expressions: The Role of Numeracy. 2017. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1501800053986437.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Prunier, Stephen. "Individual Differences in the Mental Representation of Verbal Probability Expressions: The Role of Numeracy." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1501800053986437

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1501800053986437
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This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.