Lesson plan
THOG problem
The THOG problem is one of cognitive psychologist Peter Wason's logic puzzles, constructed to show some of the weaknesses in human thinking. You are shown four symbols #a black square #a white square #a black circle #a white circle and told by the experimenter "I have picked one colour (black or white) and one shape (square or circle). A symbol that possesses exactly one, but not both, of the properties I have picked, is called a THOG. The black square is a THOG. For each of the other symbols, are they a) definitely a THOG, b) undecidable, or c) definitely not a THOG?" Presented in this form, the task is quite difficult, because much information must be held in working memory at the same time.
Article summary
The THOG problem is one of cognitive psychologist Peter Wason's logic puzzles, constructed to show some of the weaknesses in human thinking. You are shown four symbols #a black square #a white square #a black circle #a white circle and told by the experimenter "I have picked one colour (black or white) and one shape (square or circle). A symbol that possesses exactly one, but not both, of the properties I have picked, is called a THOG. The black square is a THOG. For each of the other symbols, are they a) definitely a THOG, b) undecidable, or c) definitely not a THOG?" Presented in this form, the task is quite difficult, because much information must be held in working memory at the same time.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.