We find it easier to interpret information that is formatted in a way that plays to our intuition.
Our minds are actually quite good at detecting cheats. It's an important survival instinct.
This problem is surprisingly difficult until we reduce its abstraction and make it relate to the kind of situation for which we are wired.
Here's an example that is abstract:
You have four cards face upwards, printed A D 3 6
You don't know what is printed on the other side.
In order to test the 'hypothesis' that a card printed with a vowel always has an even number on the other side, which cards would you turn ?
It's tempting to say the A and the 6 (after all 6 is an even number).
But we test by trying to disprove a hypothesis. You should turn over the A and the 3.
It's much easier when the example isn't abstract:
If four people are drinking in a bar: One is obviously drinking a coke, another a beer; the two others drinking something are clearly junior and senior to the drinking age.
Who would you have to check to find out who is drinking under age?
I think you would immediately know that you should check the age of the person drinking a beer as well as what the junior person is drinking.
