Critical Thinking Flashcards

A study claims that students who eat breakfast score higher on tests. Which conclusion is best supported by this data?

Answer: There is a correlation between breakfast and test scores

Correlation does not imply causation; the data only shows a relationship, not a causal link.

Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?

Answer: Rejecting a climate scientist's findings because she drives a large SUV

Ad hominem attacks the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.

If all mammals are warm-blooded, and whales are mammals, what can be concluded?

Answer: Whales are warm-blooded

This is a valid deductive syllogism: the conclusion follows necessarily from the premises.

A politician says, 'You're either with us or against us.' What reasoning error does this represent?

Answer: False dilemma

A false dilemma presents only two options when more alternatives exist.

Which question best evaluates the credibility of a source?

Answer: Is the source recent, peer-reviewed, and from an expert in the field?

Credibility depends on currency, expertise, and peer review, not agreement or popularity.

In a logical argument, what is the role of a premise?

Answer: It is a statement offered as support for the conclusion

Premises are the supporting statements from which a conclusion is derived.

A researcher only interviews people at a gym about exercise habits. This is an example of:

Answer: Sampling bias

Sampling bias occurs when the sample does not represent the broader population being studied.