Research Article
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Facilitating Performance with Cued Wording: An Examination of Reasoning in the Tax Context
TIMOTHY J. RUPERT,
MARTHA L. WARTICK,
Corresponding Author
TIMOTHY J. RUPERT
Northeastern University, USA
Accounting Group, Northeastern University, 404 Hayden Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115Search for more papers by this authorTIMOTHY J. RUPERT,
MARTHA L. WARTICK,
Corresponding Author
TIMOTHY J. RUPERT
Northeastern University, USA
Accounting Group, Northeastern University, 404 Hayden Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 06 January 1999
Abstract
Researchers have consistently found increased accuracy for reasoning tasks that involve permission and obligation situations; however, little is known about the task characteristics that aid the reasoning processes in these situations. This study investigates the ability of cued wording (i.e., ‘is permitted’ or ‘is required’) to increase the accuracy of subjects' reasoning. Specifically, two experiments were conducted using versions of the Wason selection task to present tax rules involving permission and obligation situations. Results of both experiments generally support the use of cued wording to increase reasoning accuracy, especially for those subjects with no experience with the rule. These results have implications for rule-driven fields like taxation, where taxpayers must comply with numerous provisions containing permission and obligation situations. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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