CCTST Evaluation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A company evaluates its employee training program by measuring productivity one week after training. What is the main limitation of this evaluation design?
- One week is too short to observe lasting effects (Correct answer)
- Productivity is not a valid outcome measure
- The training program was too expensive
- Employees might not recall the training content
Correct answer: One week is too short to observe lasting effects
Measuring outcomes only one week after training may not capture whether the training produced durable, long-term improvements in productivity.
Question 2: Which scenario best illustrates a false dilemma fallacy that a critical thinker must evaluate?
- 'Either you support this bill or you hate freedom.' (Correct answer)
- 'Studies show that exercise reduces stress in most adults.'
- 'This policy worked in Denmark, so it will work here.'
- 'Crime rates fell after the new law passed.'
Correct answer: 'Either you support this bill or you hate freedom.'
A false dilemma presents only two options when more exist; framing opposition as 'hating freedom' ignores the many other positions one could hold.
Question 3: When evaluating the credibility of a witness's testimony, which factor is LEAST relevant?
- Whether the witness had a clear view of the event
- Whether the witness has expertise relevant to the claim
- Whether the witness is well-dressed and articulate (Correct answer)
- Whether the witness has a motive to misrepresent the facts
Correct answer: Whether the witness is well-dressed and articulate
Appearance and articulateness are irrelevant to factual credibility; what matters is opportunity, expertise, and potential bias.
Question 4: An argument concludes that a diet supplement is safe because it contains 'all-natural ingredients.' What evaluative error does this reflect?
- Appeal to authority
- Appeal to nature fallacy (Correct answer)
- Straw man fallacy
- Hasty generalization
Correct answer: Appeal to nature fallacy
The appeal to nature fallacy incorrectly assumes that natural substances are inherently safe, ignoring that many natural compounds can be harmful.
Question 5: A poll reports that 70% of respondents support a new tax policy. Before accepting this as evidence of broad public support, a critical thinker should first ask:
- Who was surveyed and how were they selected? (Correct answer)
- How many total taxes currently exist?
- Whether the respondents were happy during the poll
- Whether the policy had been in effect previously
Correct answer: Who was surveyed and how were they selected?
Poll results are only meaningful if the sample was representative; a biased or self-selected sample can skew results dramatically.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'straw man' fallacy that must be evaluated critically?
- Misrepresenting an opponent's argument in a weaker form in order to refute it (Correct answer)
- Presenting too few options for solving a problem
- Using emotional language to sway the audience
- Drawing a conclusion before all evidence is reviewed
Correct answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument in a weaker form in order to refute it
A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating an opponent's position so it becomes easier to attack rather than engaging with the real argument.
Question 7: To evaluate whether an argument contains circular reasoning, a critical thinker should check whether:
- The conclusion is stated more than once
- The conclusion is used as a premise to support itself (Correct answer)
- The argument is very long and repetitive
- The premises contradict each other
Correct answer: The conclusion is used as a premise to support itself
Circular reasoning (begging the question) occurs when the conclusion is assumed within the premises rather than established by them.
CCTST Evaluation 3
A company evaluates its employee training program by measuring productivity one week after training.
What is the main limitation of this evaluation design?