IDAT Critical Thinking and Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A study finds that students who eat breakfast score higher on tests. A researcher concludes that eating breakfast causes better test performance. What logical error does this conclusion make?
- Correlation does not imply causation (Correct answer)
- The sample size is too small
- The study lacks a control group
- The test scores are unreliable
Correct answer: Correlation does not imply causation
A correlation between two variables does not establish that one causes the other; a third factor could explain both.
Question 2: Which of the following best illustrates an ad hominem fallacy?
- Dismissing an argument because the person making it has a criminal record (Correct answer)
- Rejecting a claim because it lacks supporting evidence
- Accepting a conclusion because a majority believes it
- Questioning an argument because it relies on a single example
Correct answer: Dismissing an argument because the person making it has a criminal record
Ad hominem attacks the character or background of the arguer rather than addressing the argument itself.
Question 3: A poll asks, 'Don't you agree that irresponsible drivers should face harsher penalties?' This question is problematic because it:
- Assumes the premise that certain drivers are irresponsible (Correct answer)
- Is too short to gather meaningful data
- Uses technical language unfamiliar to respondents
- Fails to offer enough answer options
Correct answer: Assumes the premise that certain drivers are irresponsible
This is a loaded question — it embeds an assumption ('irresponsible drivers') that the respondent has not agreed to.
Question 4: Passage: 'Every student who joined the tutoring program improved their GPA. Therefore, the tutoring program is the reason for the improvement.' What assumption does this argument rely on?
- No other factors contributed to the students' GPA improvement (Correct answer)
- All students have equal academic ability
- The tutoring program is free of charge
- GPA is the best measure of academic success
Correct answer: No other factors contributed to the students' GPA improvement
The argument assumes tutoring is the sole cause, ignoring other variables like increased study time or easier courses.
Question 5: Which type of reasoning moves from specific observations to a general conclusion?
- Inductive reasoning (Correct answer)
- Deductive reasoning
- Abductive reasoning
- Analogical reasoning
Correct answer: Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning generalizes from specific cases, while deductive reasoning applies a general rule to a specific case.
Question 6: A company argues: 'Our product is the best because no competitor has proven it is not.' This argument is an example of:
- Appeal to ignorance (Correct answer)
- Appeal to authority
- Hasty generalization
- False dilemma
Correct answer: Appeal to ignorance
Appeal to ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam) treats the absence of disproof as proof of a claim.
Question 7: A text states: 'Sales rose 20% after the ad campaign launched.' The most critical follow-up question to evaluate this claim is:
- What were sales trends in the same period before and without the campaign? (Correct answer)
- How much did the ad campaign cost?
- What product was being advertised?
- Who designed the advertising campaign?
Correct answer: What were sales trends in the same period before and without the campaign?
Without a baseline or control comparison, you cannot isolate the campaign's effect from other factors affecting sales.
IDAT Critical Thinking and Analysis 2
A study finds that students who eat breakfast score higher on tests.
A researcher concludes that eating breakfast causes better test performance.
What logical error does this conclusion make?