Are You Sure You’re Faster When Using a Cognitive Tool?

Abstract

Abstract Humans might have a “tool-related bias” consisting of using tools, even when they do not provide benefits compared with natural abilities. Here, we report evidence for this tool-related bias with a cognitive tool (i.e., a calculator). The task was to make series of six additions. Some series were faster to complete by mental calculation and others with the calculator. In five experiments, participants had to actually perform these additions by mental calculation or with the calculator, to estimate the time spent to perform the series with each option, and to choose which option was faster to compute the series. Our main finding is that people overestimate the time benefits provided by the calculator, confirming the existence of a tool-related bias for cognitive tools. This finding opens a promising avenue for understanding the cognitive bases of this bias.

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