FAST Critical Thinking and Decision Making 3

Question 1

A researcher wants to determine whether a new training program improves employee performance. She compares scores before and after the program for one group. What is the main weakness of this design?

Accepted Answer

There is no control group to rule out other causes of improvement

Answer

The sample size is too small to draw conclusions

Answer

The training program duration was not specified

Answer

Employee performance cannot be measured objectively

Question 2

Which of the following best distinguishes a strong argument from a weak one in critical analysis?

Accepted Answer

A strong argument's conclusion is well-supported by relevant, credible evidence

Answer

A strong argument uses complex vocabulary and detailed statistics

Answer

A strong argument is one that most people already agree with

Answer

A strong argument is stated with conviction and authority

Question 3

The 'availability heuristic' causes people to overestimate risks that are:

Accepted Answer

Easily recalled because they are vivid, recent, or heavily publicized

Answer

Statistically rare but have never been personally experienced

Answer

Related to situations outside of one's area of expertise

Answer

Complex and require specialized knowledge to assess

Question 4

A project has a 60% chance of earning $120,000 and a 40% chance of losing $30,000. What is the expected value of this project?

Accepted Answer

$60,000

Answer

$50,000

Answer

$72,000

Answer

$84,000

Question 5

Which of the following is the best example of inductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Every customer surveyed preferred the new packaging, so the new packaging is probably more popular

Answer

All prime numbers greater than 2 are odd; 7 is prime and greater than 2; therefore 7 is odd

Answer

If it rains, the ground gets wet; the ground is wet; therefore it rained

Answer

The law states that contracts require consideration; this agreement has no consideration; so it is not a contract

Question 6

When faced with a complex problem, the critical thinking technique of 'breaking it into sub-problems' is most beneficial because it:

Accepted Answer

Makes each component more manageable and easier to analyze systematically

Answer

Eliminates the need to consider how sub-problems interact with each other

Answer

Guarantees that solving each part will automatically solve the whole problem

Answer

Reduces the total number of decisions that need to be made

Question 7

A politician argues: 'If we allow stricter gun control, eventually all guns will be banned and citizens will be defenseless.' This is an example of which fallacy?

Accepted Answer

Slippery slope

Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

Straw man

Answer

Appeal to tradition