REASONING IN EXPLANATION-BASED DECISION-MAKING

A general theory of explanation-based decision making is outlined and the multiple roles of inference processes in the theory are indicated. A typology of formal and informal inference forms, originally propose d by Collins (1978a, 1978b), is introduced as an appropriate framework to represent inferences that occur in the overarching explanation-bas ed process. Results from the analysis of verbal reports of decision pr ocesses are presented to demonstrate the centrality and systematic cha racter of reasoning in a representative legal decision-making task.