Tay, Ryan and Ryan

aim

to evaluate and compare the levels of system 1 and 2 thinking among medical students in pre-clinical and clinical programs

sample

medical students in year 2 and 3 (pre-clinical) and years 4 (in clinical practice) of a 5 year medical degree

method

• used cognitive reflection test (CRT)

• three questions designed to measure the ability of respondents to activate system 2 thinking where system 1 would lead them astray

• each question has a correct system 2 and incorrect system 1 answer

results

• 10% of students had the intuitive answers to all three questions

• 44% answered all 3 correctly

• percentage of correct system 2 answers increased as they progressed through questions for both pre-clinical and clinical students

strengths 

• use of standardised test - CRT - short, reliable, replicable 

limitations

• only medical sample less representative of wide population

• as participants became familiar with question style answers could become more instinctual

• fatigue, prior knowledge and stress levels as confounding variables