Case Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real AREADING practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Case Analysis flashcards as text
A case analysis passage presents a study where participants self-reported their exercise habits. A reader familiar with research methods would identify this as a potential source of:
Answer: Response bias due to self-reporting
Self-reported data is susceptible to response bias because participants may exaggerate or underreport behaviors.
An aReading passage includes a chart showing that reading scores improved every year for five years. The author claims the new curriculum is responsible. A skeptical reader would ask:
Answer: Were there other changes during those five years that could explain the improvement?
Improvement over time could result from multiple factors, so a critical reader considers whether other changes occurred simultaneously.
When a case study passage uses the phrase 'experts agree,' a proficient reader should recognize this as:
Answer: A vague appeal to authority that requires further verification
Vague appeals to unnamed experts are a rhetorical strategy that does not constitute verifiable evidence.
A student reads two case studies: one supports a city curfew for teens and one opposes it. To write a balanced analysis, the student should:
Answer: Identify the strongest evidence from both studies and explain the points of conflict
A balanced analysis identifies and explains the strongest evidence on both sides, acknowledging genuine points of disagreement.
In a reading passage, the author writes: 'This program has worked in Finland; therefore, it will work in the United States.' What reasoning flaw does this sentence contain?
Answer: False analogy — assuming different contexts are interchangeable
Assuming a program successful in one country will automatically succeed in a very different context is a false analogy.
A case analysis passage claims that a tutoring program raised average test scores by 15 points. A reader who asks 'What was the score range before and after?' is checking for:
Answer: Whether the 15-point gain is meaningful given the original baseline
A 15-point gain means very different things depending on the baseline; readers must check context to evaluate whether a change is meaningful.
A student finishes reading a case analysis passage and is asked to evaluate the author's argument. The MOST complete evaluation would include:
Answer: An assessment of the claim, the quality of evidence, any logical flaws, and alternative interpretations
A complete evaluation examines the central claim, the quality and relevance of evidence, logical soundness, and whether alternative explanations were addressed.