Bilingualism: The foreign language effect does not extend to rational decision making

Curley, Lee; Carruthers, Lindsey; Piotrowska, Barbara

Abstract

This research investigated if the foreign language effect extended to rationality. Four groups (English speaking monolingual group; Polish speaking monolingual group; Bilingual Polish group who were presented with decision task in English; Bilingual Polish group who were presented with decision task in Polish) completed a series of decision scenarios. The results highlighted that: 1) bilingual individuals did not display more rationality in general (or in specific decision scenarios); 2) the presentation of a decision in a non-native language did not aid rational decision making in bilinguals. The paper suggests that the foreign language effect may not increase the chances of bilingual individuals being more rational decision makers in general, but may promote more rational behaviour in specific decision contexts.

Citation

Curley, L., Carruthers, L., & Piotrowska, B. (2020). Bilingualism: The foreign language effect does not extend to rational decision making. Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis, 17(1),

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 14, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Deposit Date: May 19, 2020
• Journal: Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis
• Publisher: Reysen Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Keywords: rationality; the foreign language effect; bilingualism; decision science; cognition.
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2663398
• Publisher URL: https://www.jasnh.com/