Reexamining the role of the description of problem texts in the disjunction effect

M. Bagassi and L. Macchi (2006) demonstrated that through a pragmatic analysis and consequent reformulation of a task, the certainty vs. uncertainty condition is not a crucial factor to the disjunction effect. In addition, C. Lambdin and C. Burdsal (2007) argued that, given the defining characteristics of a disjunction effect, a between-subjects design does not allow for the conditions necessary for a disjunction effect to occur. In the present study, the authors reexamined the role of text's description in the disjunction effect using a within-subject experimental design rather than a between-subjects design across 3 conditions. The results support M. Bagassi and L. Macchi's conclusion, regardless of whether the information presentation was transparent or not.