Interpretation Flashcards
7 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Interpretation flashcards as text
A financial analysis shows that companies in industries with strong union membership paid 12% higher average wages than those without. What is warranted by this data?
Answer: Higher union membership is associated with higher average wages in this analysis.
The data shows an association between union membership levels and wages but does not prescribe action or establish universal causation.
A passage reports: 'Participants who meditated daily for 8 weeks reported a 40% reduction in perceived stress.' What does this finding most directly support?
Answer: Daily meditation for 8 weeks was associated with a 40% self-reported drop in perceived stress.
The finding is about self-reported perceived stress in this participant group, not an objective or universal stress elimination.
Traffic accident records show that most accidents in a city occur between 3 PM and 6 PM. Which is the most defensible interpretation?
Answer: The 3–6 PM window accounts for the highest number of recorded accidents in this city.
The data records frequency of accidents by time and does not speak to driver behavior, road conditions, or policy solutions.
A passage states that a new fertilizer increased crop yields by 25% in field trials. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
Answer: The fertilizer produced 25% higher yields in the field trials conducted.
Field trial results support conclusions only about those trials, not universal or comparative claims.
Data indicates that students in smaller class sizes (under 20) outperformed those in larger classes (over 30) on standardized tests by an average of 12 points. What is an over-interpretation of this data?
Answer: Reducing class sizes guarantees every student's test scores will improve.
Guaranteeing individual improvement for every student goes well beyond what group average data can support.
A passage notes that a community garden project in a low-income neighborhood led to a 30% increase in residents reporting they 'feel connected to neighbors.' Which conclusion is best supported?
Answer: Residents in this neighborhood reported feeling more connected after the garden project.
The data reflects self-reported feelings in one neighborhood after one project and does not generalize or speak to permanence.
A health report states: 'People who drink at least 8 glasses of water per day are 20% less likely to report headaches than those who drink fewer than 4 glasses.' What is the most justified interpretation?
Answer: Higher water intake was associated with lower self-reported headache rates in this group.
The data shows an association between water intake and headache reporting in this group, not a universal prevention claim.