Normative benchmarks are useful for studying individual differences in reasoning

Stupple, Edward J. N. and Ball, Linden J. (2011) Normative benchmarks are useful for studying individual differences in reasoning. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 34 (5). pp. 270-271. ISSN 0140-525X

Abstract

We applaud many aspects of Elqayam & Evans' (E&E's) call for a descriptivist research programme in studying reasoning. Nevertheless, we contend that normative benchmarks are vital for understanding individual differences in performance. We argue that the presence of normative responses to particular problems by certain individuals should inspire researchers to look for converging evidence for analytic processing that may have a normative basis.