Communicating Quantities: A Psychological Perspective

Vague expressions can be more informative than precise statements, as they provide information without being misleading. The book "The Meaning of Quantifiers" explores this idea and shows how these expressions control attention and convey information about expectations. It connects formal theories of quantification to psychological experimentation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Every day, in numerous situations, we encounter expressions that offer us only vague information. The weather forecaster informs us that there may be some showers in the Northern regions during the night, a statement that lacks specificity regarding the number of showers, their location, and the exact time they will occur. Despite this vagueness, these messages are still informative, and it is often impossible for the message producer to provide greater precision. For instance, a tutor tells his students that only a few fail their exams outright. This statement does not provide a precise incidence but can be equally misleading. For example, stating that twelve percent failed outright last year offers no information about other years, while stating an average of eight percent over the past five years says nothing about variability. We argue that a precise, numerical statement can sometimes be more misleading in reality than a vague statement.

Numerous researchers in psychology have aimed to capture the meaning of quantities by relating them to scales of quantity. Originally published in 1993, the book delves into this idea in great detail and demonstrates through original studies how these expressions also serve to control attention and convey information about the expectations held by those involved in the communication. The book aims to develop a psychological theory of the meaning of quantifiers and similarly vague terms. New connections are established between formal theories of quantification and psychological experimentation.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032552668