We propose a theory of immediate inferences from assertions containing a single quantifier, such as: All of the artists are bakers; therefore, some of the bakers are artists. The theory is based on mental models and is implemented in a computer program, mReasoner. It predicts three main levels of increasing difficulty: (a) immediate inferences in which the premise and conclusion have identical ...

In regression applications with categorical predictors, interest often focuses on comparing the null hypothesis of homogeneity to an ordered alternative. This article proposes a Bayesian approach for addressing this problem in the setting of normal linear and probit regression models. The regression coefficients are assigned a conditionally conjugate prior density consisting of mixtures of poin...

There are two common and distinct uses of probabilities: probabilities used as degrees of belief and probabilities used as statistical measures. Probabilities used as statistical measures can represent various assertions about the objective statistical state of the world, while probabilities used as degrees of belief can represent various assertions about the subjective state of an agent’s beli...

The objectives of this paper are twofold, whereby the computer p r o g r a m i s meant to be a particular implementation of a general natural Language [NL] p r o e e s s i n ~ s y s t e m [NI,PSI w h i c h could be used for different domains. The first obiective is to provide a theory for processing temporal information contained i n a well-structured, technical text. The second obiective is to...

People reject ‘paradoxical’ inferences, such as: Luisa didn’t play music; therefore, if Luisa played soccer, then she didn’t play music. For some theorists, they are invalid for everyday conditionals, but valid in logic. The theory of mental models implies that they are valid, but unacceptable because the conclusion refers to a possibility inconsistent with the premise. Hence, individuals shoul...

This paper is a methodological critique of the Coleman Report (James S. Coleman ~ M. Equality 9!. Educational Opportunity, U.S. Office of Education, 1966). The Cain-Watts criticism is directed towards the statistical methods used, ~ to th~ report's substantive findings. The principal theme of Cain and Watts is that the analytical part of the Coleman Report bas such serious methodological shortc...

ith great interest I read the report by Weissman et al. (1) regarding ntravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis of polymer-based aclitaxel-eluting stents. The investigators stated in the text that positive remodeling assessed as the absolute increase in the xternal elastic membrane volume over time tended to be slightly ore prominent with the TAXUS stent (7.66 48.64 mm vs. 12.29 36.05 mm, respect...

Conventions are shown for representing information in semantic networks in a linear form called semantic case relations. Representations of variables, truth functions, and quantified statements are provided. Methods for answering questions from the resulting semantic predicates are illustrated and a computational procedure for answering questions from quantified semantic predicates is described...

In this paper we discuss intercultural communication using the notions of high-context and low-context cultures. Using examples from English and Finnish conversations, we exemplify dialogue strategies and relative speaker and hearer responsibilities via three conversational aspects: anaphoric references, topic introduction, and disjunctive questions. The examples show different interpretations ...

Uncertainty may be taken to characterize in­ ferences, their conclusions, their premises or all three. Under some treatments of uncer­ tainty, the inference itself is never character­ ized by uncertainty. We explore both the sig­ nificance of uncertainty in the premises and in the conclusion of an argument that in­ volves uncertainty. We argue that for un­ certainty to characterize the conclusi...