description Wason Selection Task Overview
The Wason Selection Task is a logical reasoning experiment devised by psychologist Peter Wason in 1966 that demonstrated a systematic human bias toward confirmation rather than falsification in conditional reasoning.
help Wason Selection Task FAQ
What is the classic example of the Wason Selection Task?
The classic version shows cards with a letter on one side and a number on the other, alongside the rule: if a card has a vowel on one side, it must have an even number on the other. The correct cards to turn are the vowel card, such as E, and the odd-number card, such as 7.
What reasoning error does the Wason Selection Task demonstrate?
The task demonstrates a tendency to seek confirming evidence rather than evidence that could falsify a rule. Peter Wason introduced the experiment in 1966 to study conditional reasoning.
Why must the odd-number card be checked?
An odd number on the reverse side would disprove the rule if the other side contained a vowel. Checking an even-number card cannot falsify the rule because the rule says nothing about what may appear behind an even number.
Does the Wason task test mathematical ability?
The task primarily tests how people reason about conditional statements, not advanced mathematics. Versions framed around familiar social rules can produce different results, showing that context affects reasoning performance.
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