Transfer Success on the Linda Problem: A Re-Examination Using Dual Process Theory, Learning Material Characteristics, and Individual Differences

The Linda problem is an intensely studied task in the literature for judgments where participants judge the probability of various options and frequently make biased judgements known as conjunction errors. Here, I conceptually replicated and extended the finding by Agnoli and Krantz (1989) that when participants are explicitly trained with Venn diagrams to inhibit their heuristics, successful transfer of learning is observed. I tested whether transfer success was maintained: (1) when the purpose of the training was obscured; (2) after controlling for individual differences; and (3) when learning materials did not include visual images. I successfully replicated their finding, identifying transfer success when the purpose of the training was masked and after controlling for individual differences. Furthermore, the effects of individual differences on transfer success depends on both the kind of learning material used and whether the purpose was masked. Hence, these findings support claims that education can inhibit biases.