The Instrumental Value of Explanations

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Expanding Explainability: Towards Social Transparency in AI systems

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Transparency in Algorithmic and Human Decision-Making: Is There a Double Standard?

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The future of artificial intelligence at work: A review on effects of decision automation and augmentation on workers targeted by algorithms and third-party observers

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Explanatory Preferences Shape Learning and Inference

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Causation with Human Face

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Evaluating everyday explanations

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The Who in XAI: How AI Background Shapes Perceptions of AI Explanations

Ehsan, U., Passi, S., Liao, Q. V., Chan, L., Lee, I.-H., Muller, M., & Riedl, M. O. (2024) · Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3613904.3642474 · Cited by 123

AI, Opacity, and Personal Autonomy

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Public attitudes value interpretability but prioritize accuracy in Artificial Intelligence

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Charting the Sociotechnical Gap in Explainable AI: A Framework to Address the Gap in XAI

Ehsan, U., Saha, K., Choudhury, M. D., & Riedl, M. O. (2023) · Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1145/3579467 · Cited by 113

Explanation and Explanationism in Science and Metaphysics

Saatsi, J. T. (2017) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199363209.003.0009 · Cited by 66

Source credibility and the processing of refutation texts

Boekel, M. V., Lassonde, K. A., O’Brien, E. J., & Kendeou, P. (2016) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/s13421-016-0649-0 · Cited by 59

The metaphor police: A case study of the role of metaphor in explanation

Thibodeau, P. H., Crow, L., & Flusberg, S. J. (2016) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-016-1192-5 · Cited by 57

The heuristic conception of inference to the best explanation

Dellsén, F. (2017) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-017-0933-2 · Cited by 52

The cultural roots of free will beliefs: How Singaporean and U.S. Children judge and explain possibilities for action in interpersonal contexts.

Chernyak, N., Kang, C., & Kushnir, T. (2019) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/dev0000670 · Cited by 52

Bayesian Occam's Razor Is a Razor of the People

Blanchard, T., Lombrozo, T., & Nichols, S. (2017) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1111/cogs.12573 · Cited by 48

Shared understanding of color among sighted and blind adults

Kim, J. S., Aheimer, B., Manrara, V. M., & Bedny, M. (2021) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2020192118 · Cited by 48

Optimizing Conditions for Learning: Situating Refutations in Epistemic Cognition

Kendeou, P., Braasch, J. L. G., & Bråten, I. (2015) · The Journal of Experimental Education · doi:10.1080/00220973.2015.1027806 · Cited by 43

“Learning by Thinking” in Science and in Everyday Life

Lombrozo, T. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190212308.003.0010 · Cited by 38

Relative explainability and double standards in medical decision-making

Kempt, H., Heilinger, J., & Nagel, S. K. (2022) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-022-09646-x · Cited by 38

Children’s success at detecting circular explanations and their interest in future learning

Mills, C. M., Danovitch, J. H., Rowles, S. P., & Chandler-Campbell, I. L. (2017) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-016-1195-2 · Cited by 40

Mind the gap: How incomplete explanations influence children’s interest and learning behaviors

Danovitch, J. H., Mills, C. M., Sands, K. R., & Williams, A. J. (2021) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.cogpsych.2021.101421 · Cited by 28

Data science and molecular biology: prediction and mechanistic explanation

López‐Rubio, E., & Ratti, E. (2019) · Synthese · doi:10.1007/s11229-019-02271-0 · Cited by 34

Stability, breadth and guidance

Blanchard, T., Vasilyeva, N. Y., & Lombrozo, T. (2017) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-017-0958-6 · Cited by 26

Determinants of Judgments of Explanatory Power: Credibility, Generality, and Statistical Relevance

Colombo, M., Bucher, L., & Sprenger, J. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01430 · Cited by 25

How Are Biology Concepts Used and Transformed?

Brigandt, I. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.006 · Cited by 24

The Automated Laplacean Demon: How ML Challenges Our Views on Prediction and Explanation

Srećković, S., Berber, A., & Filipović, N. (2021) · Minds and Machines · doi:10.1007/s11023-021-09575-6 · Cited by 22

Experimental Philosophy of Explanation Rising: The Case for a Plurality of Concepts of Explanation

Colombo, M. (2016) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1111/cogs.12340 · Cited by 22

Representing, Running, and Revising Mental Models: A Computational Model

Friedman, S., Forbus, K. D., & Sherin, B. L. (2017) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1111/cogs.12574 · Cited by 21

Is It Possible to Scientifically Reconstruct the History of Life on Earth?

Cleland, C. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.011 · Cited by 20

Reading Skill Moderates the Impact of Semantic Similarity and Causal Specificity on the Coherence of Explanations

Wittwer, J., & Ihme, N. (2013) · Discourse Processes · doi:10.1080/0163853x.2013.855577 · Cited by 19

Contrastive Constraints Guide Explanation‐Based Category Learning

Chin‐Parker, S., & Cantelon, J. (2017) · Cognitive Science · doi:10.1111/cogs.12405 · Cited by 18

Best-System Laws, Explanation, and Unification

Blanchard, T. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192893819.003.0011 · Cited by 17

Metaphor and Scientific Explanation

Levy, A. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190212308.003.0013 · Cited by 17

The Who in Explainable AI: How AI Background Shapes Perceptions of AI ExplanationsPreprint

Ehsan, U., Passi, S., Liao, Q. V., Chan, L., Lee, I.-H., Muller, M. J., & Riedl, M. O. (2021) · arXiv (Cornell University) · Cited by 17

Philosophy of Science for Biologists

Kampourakis, K., & Uller, T. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981 · Cited by 17

Functions and Cognitive Bases for the Concept of Actual Causation

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The State of Tourism Futures Research

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A contrastive account of explanation generation

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Nullius in Explanans: an ethical risk assessment for explainable AI

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Modeling the Process by Which People Try to Explain Complex Things to Others

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What Constitutes an Explanation in Biology?

Potochnik, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.003 · Cited by 13

Experiential Explanation

Aronowitz, S., & Lombrozo, T. (2019) · Topics in Cognitive Science · doi:10.1111/tops.12445 · Cited by 12

Deep learning models and the limits of explainable artificial intelligence

Bjerring, J. C., Mainz, J. T., & Munch, L. A. (2025) · Asian Journal of Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s44204-024-00238-8 · Cited by 16

Iterative and Adaptive Sampling with Spatial Attention for Black-Box Model Explanations

Vasu, B., & Long, C. (2020) · IEEE Winter Conference on Applications of Computer Vision · doi:10.1109/wacv45572.2020.9093576 · Cited by 11

Denied by an (Unexplainable) Algorithm: Teleological Explanations for Algorithmic Decisions Enhance Customer SatisfactionPreprint

Tomaino, G., Abdulhalim, H., Kireyev, P., & Wertenbroch, K. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3683754 · Cited by 12

No brute facts: The Principle of Sufficient Reason in ordinary thought

Partington, S. W., Vesga, A., & Nichols, S. (2023) · Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105479 · Cited by 10

The explanation-polarisation model: Pseudoscience spreads through explanatory satisfaction and group polarisation

Fasce, A. (2022) · Journal of Social and Political Psychology · doi:10.5964/jspp.8051 · Cited by 10

Taking a stance on the role of nuclear energy to combat the climate crisis: how communication task and expert’s personal stance impact individuals' intellectual humility and strategies for dealing with a complex topic

Vaupotič, N., Kienhues, D., & Jucks, R. (2022) · The Educational and Developmental Psychologist · doi:10.1080/20590776.2021.2018916 · Cited by 10

Meaningful transparency through data rights: A multidimensional analysis

Naudts, L., Dewitte, P., & Ausloos, J. (2022) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781800371682.00030 · Cited by 8

Family science capital moderates gender differences in parent–child scientific conversation

Leech, K. A. (2024) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2024.106020 · Cited by 8

Learning From Refutation and Standard Expository Science Texts: The Contribution of Inhibitory Functions in Relation to Text Type

Masón, L., Borella, E., Diakidoy, I. N., Butterfuss, R., Kendeou, P., & Carretti, B. (2020) · Discourse Processes · doi:10.1080/0163853x.2020.1826248 · Cited by 8

Expressivism about explanatory relevance

Hunt, J. (2022) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-022-01890-7 · Cited by 7

Ambient Explanations: Ambient Intelligence and Explainable AI

Cassens, J., & Wegener, R. (2019) · Lecture notes in computer science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-34255-5_30 · Cited by 7

Why Does It Matter That Many Biology Concepts Are Metaphors?

Kampourakis, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.007 · Cited by 7

How does Google get its information?: Children's judgements about Google search

Girouard‐Hallam, L. N., & Danovitch, J. H. (2024) · British Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjdp.12487 · Cited by 6

FOLK ATTRIBUTIONS OF UNDERSTANDING: IS THERE A ROLE FOR EPISTEMIC LUCK?

Wilkenfeld, D. A., Plunkett, D., & Lombrozo, T. (2016) · Episteme · doi:10.1017/epi.2016.38 · Cited by 6

Revisiting the narrow latent scope bias in explanatory reasoning

Stephan, S. (2023) · Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105630 · Cited by 5

What Is the Nature of Scientific Controversies in the Biological Sciences?

Dietrich, M. R. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.013 · Cited by 6

The role of consistency, order, and structure in evaluating and comprehending competing scientific explanations

Ihme, N., & Wittwer, J. (2015) · Instructional Science · doi:10.1007/s11251-015-9349-6 · Cited by 5

Disciplining Deliberation: A Socio-technical Perspective on Machine Learning Trade-Offs

Fazelpour, S. (2025) · The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science · doi:10.1086/734552 · Cited by 5

Critical Thinking in AI-Assisted Deontologically-Governed Professional Decision-Making: When and How Explainability, Reliability, and Transparency Matter

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Historical and experimental evidence that inherent properties are overweighted in early scientific explanation

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Eight Other Questions about Explanation

Potochnik, A. (2018) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198777946.003.0004 · Cited by 4

What Is the Relation between Facts and Values in Biological Science?

Friese, C., & Prainsack, B. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.014 · Cited by 5

Do mathematical explanations have instrumental value?

Morris, R. L. (2019) · Synthese · doi:10.1007/s11229-019-02114-y · Cited by 3

But Why?: Children’s belief in the necessity of explanations

Flanagan, T., Vesga, A., Kushnir, T., & Nichols, S. (2025) · Journal of Experimental Child Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2025.106317 · Cited by 3

Seeking Ideal Explanations in a Non-Ideal World.

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Explainable Inference in the FRANK Query Answering System

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How Can Conceptual Analysis Contribute to Scientific Practice?

Lewens, T. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.009 · Cited by 3

What Is the Nature of Theories and Models in Biology?

Parke, E. C., & Plutynski, A. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.005 · Cited by 3

Comparing Gender Hierarchy and Evolutionary Psychology Explanations of Workplace Sexual Harassment

Weaving, M., Lynch, K. E., & Fine, C. (2026) · Sexuality & Culture · doi:10.1007/s12119-026-10575-w · Cited by 2

What Is the Basis of Biological Classification?

Reydon, T. A. C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.012 · Cited by 2

What’s the Point of Understanding?

Hannon, M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190914721.003.0010 · Cited by 2

How Do Concepts Contribute to Scientific Advancement?

Depew, D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.008 · Cited by 2

A Philosopher in the Age of Creationism

Ruse, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.015 · Cited by 2

What Is Biological Knowledge?

McCain, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.004 · Cited by 3

Explanatory Judgment, Probability, and Abductive InferencePreprint

Colombo, M., Postma, M., & Sprenger, J. (2016) · PhilSci-Archive (University of Pittsburgh) · Cited by 2

Explanation

Lombrozo, T. (2016) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118661666.ch34 · Cited by 2

Le raisonnement comme compétence sociale : une comparaison expérimentale avec les théories intellectualistes

Trouche, E. (2016) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/e8ec0fb8za022z4ef1za466z61b89b7d0b0c · Cited by 2

New Horizons in Studying the Cellular Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Ehsani, S. (2022) · Future of business and finance · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-99838-7_4 · Cited by 1

Determinants of judgments of explanatory power: Credibility, Generalizability, and Causal Framing

Colombo, M., Bucher, L., & Sprenger, J. (2017) · Research portal (Tilburg University) · Cited by 1

Children selectively endorse speculative conjectures

Chu, J., & Schulz, L. (2021) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.13647 · Cited by 2

Why Should Biologists Care about the Philosophy of Science?

Uller, T., & Kampourakis, K. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.002 · Cited by 1

What Methods Do Life Scientists Use?

Peterson, E. L. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.010 · Cited by 1

Combining Deductive and Statistical Explanations in the FRANK Query Answering System

Bundy, A., & Nuamah, K. (2021) · IEEE International Conference on Big Knowledge (ICBK) · doi:10.1109/ickg52313.2021.00010 · Cited by 1

Introduction

Woodward, J. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197585412.003.0001 · Cited by 1

Gradient Frequency Modulation for Visually Explaining Video Understanding Models

Lin, X., Bao, W., Wright, M., & Kong, Y. (2021) · British Machine Vision Conference (BMVC) · doi:10.5244/c.35.15 · Cited by 1

Explanatory Value and Probabilistic ReasoningPreprint

Colombo, M., Bucher, L., Postma, M., & Sprenger, J. (2014) · PhilSci-Archive (University of Pittsburgh) · Cited by 1

The Subsumptive Constraints Account of why explaining "why?" helps learning

Williams, J. J. (2013) · eScholarship (California Digital Library) · Cited by 1

Mitigating the trade-off between verification and speculation in learning vowel harmonyPreprint

Do, Y., Hoey, T. V., & Yu, B. (2023) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/x9fct · Cited by 1

Birth-Related Brain Injuries: Torts in TroublePreprint

Giard, R. W. M. (2013) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2215103

Explanatory Value and Probabilistic Reasoning: An Empirical StudyPreprint

Colombo, M., Postma, M., & Sprenger, J. (2014) · PhilSci-Archive (University of Pittsburgh)

Designing Technology-Enhanced Science Inquiry Instruction to Scaffold Student Choice Through Explanation and Reflection

Chen, J. K. (2016)

The effects of generating risk explanations on judgments and decisions about risks

Latiff, S. (2019) · doi:10.17760/d20321700

How Can We Teach Philosophy of Science to Biologists?

Kampourakis, K., & Uller, T. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108648981.016

Principled Mechanistic Explanations in Biology: A Case Study of Alzheimer's DiseasePreprint

Ehsani, S. (2021) · PhilSci-Archive (University of Pittsburgh)

Some Empirical Results Concerning Causal Learning and Representation

Woodward, J. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197585412.003.0005

Invariance

Woodward, J. (2021) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197585412.003.0006

The Value Provided by a Scientific Explanation

Gong, R., Kadane, J. B., Schervish, M. J., Seidenfeld, T., & Stern, R. B. (2022) · Theory and decision library. Series A, Philosophy and methodology of the social sciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15436-2_2

A salience account of explanatory power

Shorey, K. (2015) · doi:10.32469/10355/47074

Reintroducing Prediction to Explanation

Douglas, H. (2009) · Philosophy of Science · doi:10.1086/648111 · Cited by 141

Scientific Explanation

Strevens, M. (2014) · Palgrave Macmillan eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137389831.0007

Explanation and Evaluation in Cognitive Science

Montgomery, R. (1995) · Philosophy of Science · doi:10.1086/289856 · Cited by 3