pragmatic reasoning schema theory
a model of conditional reasoning stating that people use generalized sets of context-specific, goal-dependent rules to make inferences about situations or problems. Each set of rules is abstracted from past experience and defined in terms of a specific type of pragmatic reasoning schema. For example, the obligation schema is a set of inference rules for situations in which the occurrence of a condition necessitates an action (e.g., if a miner gets lung cancer, then the company must pay compensation), whereas the permission schema applies to situations in which a precondition must be satisfied before a desired action is taken (e.g., if a customer is drinking an alcoholic beverage, then he or she must be over 21 years of age). According to the theory, the inference being tested is mapped onto different pragmatic schemata depending on the characteristics of the situation; the
applicable schema then becomes the basis for reasoning, such that different schemata encourage different conclusions and different patterns of behavior. See also Wason selection task. [introduced in 1985 by Hong Kong-born U.S. cognitive psychologist Patricia W. Cheng (1952– ) and Canadian-born U.S. cognitive psychologist Keith J. Holyoak (1950– )]