THINKING LIKE A SKEPTIC

Do atheists think differently than do those who believe in God?  I’m not talking about what the different groups believe but how they decide what they believe.

The other day a Facebook friend posted an article describing a research study appearing in the journal Science that attempted to answer that question.  [https://bigthink.com/praxis/a-three-question-math-quiz-that-predicts-whether-you-believe-in-god?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1536192326]  The authors of the study came up with a three-question quiz intended to distinguish between the approach to analyzing problems used by those who believe in God and the approach used by those who do not.  

Do you want to take the quiz?  It’s short and simple.  Here it is:

1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost? ____ cents

2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets? _____ minutes

3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake? _____ days

I can hear the complaint already:  “I understood there would be no math.”  But these questions do not require any proficiency in higher math.  A working knowledge of arithmetic should be sufficient.  OK.  Do you have your answers?   

Before I reveal the answers, let me describe briefly the results of the study.  The researchers began with the description of contrasting styles of thinking delineated in Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking Fast and Slow, distinguishing between analytical and intuitive systems of thinking.  The questions in the quiz were intended to separate those who think analytically from those who think intuitively.  So-called analytical thinkers do better on the quiz than do intuitive thinkers.  The hypothesis that the researchers were testing was whether religious persons are more likely to think intuitively rather than analytically and therefore not do as well on the quiz.

In the study the researchers gave the subjects, 179 undergraduates, the quiz followed by a series of 18 questions intended to measure the subjects’ religiosity.  The researchers found that there was a negative correlation between the subjects’ scores on the quiz and their level of religiosity.  In other words, the more religious the subjects were, the lower they scored on the quiz, confirming the researchers’ hypothesis.  

I think the study can be criticized on a couple of grounds.  First, it only measures correlation, not cause and effect.  It isn’t clear whether religious people are more intuitive and less analytical because their religious beliefs have led them to think that way or that they are more religious because they think intuitively rather than analytically. 

Second, the correlation was statistically significant but not particularly strong (around -.20 for anyone who is interested).  This is not surprising, as psychological studies tend to involve a large number of potentially complicating variables (noise).  In this study, for example, the quiz questions are mathematical, so subjects may score differently depending on their level of mathematical sophistication.  In addition, some subjects may have seen the questions and answers previously.  The religiosity questions also are susceptible to differing interpretations.  For example, how does one respond to the following statement: “My faith sometimes restricts my actions”?  In short, just because one has a belief in God does not mean that he or she does not or cannot think analytically.

Having said that, my experience in discussions with persons of faith is consistent with the study’s findings.  In addressing questions of religious belief, my comments may be based on an analytical approach, focusing on objective evidence and rational analysis.  My counterparts in the discussion, on the other hand, may be employing a more intuitive approach, relying on scriptural authority and subjective feelings.   

Such discussions can be frustrating both for me and for the other party to the discussion.  For my part, I need to recognize that using an analytical approach is not going to be persuasive, regardless of how impeccable I believe my logic to be.  On the other hand, those intuitive thinkers of faith need to understand that I am driven by rational analysis.  It is disheartening to have someone respond to an argument I have made by quoting scripture or by insisting that her or his faith is supported by internal feelings or, worst of all, by simply failing to respond. 

OK, so here are the answers to the questions:



1.  5 cents
2.  5 minutes
3.  47 days 

If you are puzzled by any of the answers, I would encourage you to read the article cited at the beginning of this essay, which includes explanations for the answers.

One final point: While the research is intended to distinguish among individuals on the basis of their belief in God, my sense is that this discussion more accurately describes the differences in thinking style between those who think skeptically and those who do not.  See, e.g., my essay on skepticism:  http://skepticreflections.blogspot.com/2017/01/a-note-on-skepticism.html.


© 2018 John M. Phillips