Modeling Human Reasoning: A Computational Comparison of Single- vs. Dual-Process Theories

This project investigates the long-standing debate between Dual Process Theory (DPT) and Single Process Theory (SPT) in human reasoning through the use of computational cognitive modeling. While traditional dual-process accounts argue that intuitive and deliberative reasoning arise from qualitatively distinct cognitive systems, single-process approaches propose that both forms of reasoning emerge from a unified cognitive mechanism. Despite decades of research, these competing frameworks have largely remained verbal theories, making it difficult to distinguish between them empirically. To address this limitation, the present project applies Evidence Accumulation Models (EAMs), particularly the Diffusion Decision Model (DDM), to formally represent and test the assumptions underlying these theories.