B. Mellers et al., Do frequency representations eliminate conjunction effects? An exercise inadversarial collaboration, PSYCHOL SCI, 12(4), 2001, pp. 269-275
The present article offers an approach to scientific debate called adversar
ial collaboration. The approach requires both parties to agree on empirical
tests for resolving a dispute and to conduct these tests with the help of
an arbiter. In dispute were Hertwig's claims that frequency formats elimina
te conjunction effects and that the conjunction effects previously reported
by Kahneman and Tversky occurred because some participants interpreted the
word "and" in "bank tellers and feminists" as a union operator. Hertwig pr
oposed two new conjunction phrases, "and are" and "who are" that would elim
inate the ambiguity. Kahneman disagreed with Hertwig's predictions for "and
are" but agreed with his predictions for "who are." Mellers served as arbi
ter. Frequency formats by themselves did not eliminate conjunction effects
with any of the phrases, but when filler items were removed, conjunction ef
fects disappeared with Hertwig's phrases. Kahneman and Hertwig offer differ
ent interpretations of the findings. We discuss the benefits of adversarial
collaboration over the replies and rejoinders, and present a suggested pro
tocol for adversarial collaboration.