Search

Hypothesis. We intend to explore whether presenting information in a foreign language (as opposed to the native language) can help people to better distinguish between metaphorical an literal meanings of sentences. We also would like to explore if presenting information in a foreign language, as opposed to the native language, can make people less prone to adhere to theories of superstition and conspiracy. Goal of research: - to investigate the effects of the foreign language on Core Knowledge Confusion, Superstition and Conspiracy through the administration of an online questionnaire, following an experimental manipulation. - to investigate whether reading statements in the native language (Ita) or in the foreign language (Eng) may have an impact on Core Knowledge Confusion. - to investigate whether the use of a second language (English) affects being influenced by Superstition and Conspiracy of some scenarios. Expected results. We hypothesize that, reading the adapted version of Lindeman’s Core Knowledge Confusion test in the participants first and second language, could lead to different interpretations and different results. Participants who read the test in their first language will probably be more intuitive and prone to say that the sentences are literally true. Participants that read the test in their second language will be more rational and analytical and they will be more likely to see the real meaning of the sentences and answer that the sentences are not literally true, but only metaphorically true. As to the scenarios related to theories of Superstition and Conspiracy, we expect participants who read the statements in their second language to be less prone to believe an influence of the superstitious or conspiracy event. Method. Questionnaire with Likert scale, between-subject design Manipulation: the administration of a questionnaire in Italian or in English. Participants are invited to independently fill in an online questionnaire and are randomly assigned to a group (Ita/Eng).

Hypothesis We intend to explore whether presenting information in a foreign language (as opposed to the native language) makes people more tolerant to ambiguity. Goal of research - to investigate the effects of the foreign language on tolerance of ambiguity, through the administration of an online questionnaire, following an experimental manipulation. - to investigate whether reading statements and a scenario in the native language (Ita) or in the foreign language (Eng) may have an impact on tolerance to ambiguity. - to investigate whether the use of a second language (English) affects the tolerance to the ambiguity of some scenarios. Expected results We expect Italian participants who answer the questionnaire in English (L2) to be more tolerant compared to the Italian participants who answer the questionnaire in Italian (L1). Method Questionnaire with Likert scale Between-subject design Manipulation: the administration of a questionnaire in Italian or in English. Participants are invited to independently fill in an online questionnaire and are randomly assigned to a group (Ita/Eng).