CARS CARS Evidence Evaluation and Research Methods 2

Question 1

A CARS passage argues that because a policy worked in Sweden, it will work in the United States. Which flaw undermines this reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Differences in cultural, political, and social context may make direct comparison invalid

Answer

Directly applying findings from one country to another ignores potentially critical contextual differences that affect outcomes.

Question 2

In a CARS passage, an author dismisses a competing study because it was published 20 years ago. Is this a strong counter-argument?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily, because older foundational research may still be valid and relevant

Answer

Age alone does not invalidate research; some foundational studies remain highly relevant, though newer evidence may also need to be weighed.

Question 3

A CARS passage includes a graph showing a sharp rise in a variable after a new intervention. What additional information is needed before concluding the intervention caused the rise?

Accepted Answer

Whether a control group without the intervention showed a similar rise

Answer

Without a control group, the observed rise could be due to other factors unrelated to the intervention, making causation impossible to confirm.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of anecdotal evidence as it might appear in a CARS passage?

Accepted Answer

A doctor claims a treatment works because one of her patients recovered after using it

Answer

Anecdotal evidence is based on personal experience or individual cases rather than systematic data collection, making it unreliable for broad conclusions.

Question 5

A CARS passage describes a researcher who designed an experiment to test her own hypothesis. What potential bias should the reader consider?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias may lead the researcher to favor results that support her hypothesis

Answer

Confirmation bias occurs when researchers unconsciously seek, interpret, or report data in ways that support their pre-existing beliefs.

(CARS) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Practice Test

(CARS) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Practice Test

CARS CARS Evidence Evaluation and Research Methods 2