Decision making is the process of making choices by identifying a decision, gathering information, and assessing

alternative resolutions. A good deal of our cognitive processing happens unconsciously without us even realising.
One theory which explains this was the “Dual Process Model” also known as ‘System 1 and 2 thinking’. System 1
thinking is automatic, intuitive and effortless. It makes use of heuristics or mental shortcuts to make decisions or
form judgements quickly, based on previous experience. System 1 thinking can also be prone to errors as well as can
lead to high levels of confidence in our decisions and is often used when the cognitive load is high.
System 2 thinking is slower, conscious, rational and more effortful. System 2 thinking is less likely to create feelings
of certitude and confidence in comparison to system 1 and answers may be thought of as ‘probable’ as opposed to
‘correct’.It is thought that both systems can operate together and that system 1 is generally activated first in order to
reach a quick conclusion, before system 2 comes into play, providing further analysis to hopefully reach a "more
correct" conclusion. Oftentimes, system 1 and 2 result in differing answers and these may interfere with each other,
making it difficult to come to a final conclusion. A study that explores this theory is Evans and Wason (1968)

In the Wason task, participants were given questions where if x then y (ex. in the card deck AD37, if there’s an A on
one side of the card, then there’s a 3 on the other). The participants had to choose the least amount of cards to flip
over to test whether the rule was true or false. Most people chose the wrong cards to flip (they either chose A or A
and 3), and when asked why they flipped the cards they did, they couldn’t explain why.

This supports the dual process model, as most people used their intuition (system 1 processing). They would flip
over A and 3 as they were stated in the question. However, by using system 2 and rationally crossing off different
possibilities, you would be able to see: A needs to be flipped to check the rule, D doesn’t need to be because it
doesn’t matter what’s on the other side, 3 doesnt need to be flipped either because they stated if there’s A on 1 side
there’s a 3 on the other, they never said 3 can’t be paired with something else, but 7 needs to be flipped because if A
is on the other side then the rule is wrong. Through this study, we’re able to see how people use their different
systems (how we often rush to system 1 first as it’s intuition, but how it’s fallible to mistakes), therefore supporting
the dual process model.