ERIC Number: EJ833731
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0741-0883
EISSN: N/A
Argumentation Schema and the Myside Bias in Written Argumentation
Wolfe, Christopher R.; Britt, M. Anne; Butler, Jodie A.
Written Communication, v26 n2 p183-209 2009
This article describes a cognitive argumentation schema for written arguments and presents three empirical studies on the "myside" bias--the tendency to ignore or exclude evidence against one's position. Study 1 examined the consequences of conceding, rebutting, and denying other-side information. Rebuttal led to higher ratings of agreement and quality and better impressions of the author than when the same arguments excluded other-side information (i.e., exhibited the myside bias). In Study 2, claims had a significantly greater impact on agreement ratings and reasons had a significantly greater impact on quality ratings. When participants were given myside reasons supporting other-side claims, they acknowledged argument strength while making relatively minor changes in agreement. In Study 3, the authors found that a brief, theoretically motivated written tutorial was effective in improving undergraduate students' written argumentative essays by significantly increasing the precision of claims, improving the elaboration of reasons, and reducing the myside bias. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Persuasive Discourse, Program Effectiveness, Expository Writing, Writing Instruction, Writing Research, Evidence, Writing Improvement, Writing Strategies, Bias, Thinking Skills, Schemata (Cognition)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305H050133; R305H020039