OACP Logical Reasoning and Analysis 5

Question 1

Dispatch logs show calls for service peak between 11 PM and 2 AM on weekends. A chief allocates extra officers during Tuesday afternoons instead. What reasoning error does this decision reflect?

Accepted Answer

Misallocation due to failure to apply data-driven analysis

Answer

Ignoring clear peak-time data and deploying resources at a non-peak period reflects a failure to apply evidence-based resource allocation.

Question 2

An officer is given four boxes labeled: 'Evidence,' 'Non-Evidence,' 'Fragile,' and 'Non-Fragile.' Which combination must be checked to verify the rule: 'Every Evidence box is Fragile'?

Accepted Answer

Evidence and Non-Fragile

Answer

You must check Evidence boxes (to confirm they are Fragile) and Non-Fragile boxes (to confirm they contain no Evidence) — this is the Wason selection task logic.

Question 3

A detective argues: 'Witness X lied about their alibi, therefore everything X says is false.' This reasoning exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

The genetic fallacy overapplied to credibility

Answer

Dismissing all of a person's statements because one was false commits the genetic fallacy — judging content solely by its source's past behavior.

Question 4

Community surveys show satisfaction with police services dropped 15% after a new policy was introduced. The inspector concludes the policy caused the drop. A more cautious analyst would first:

Accepted Answer

Check whether other factors changed simultaneously that could explain the drop

Answer

Before attributing the drop to the policy, a rigorous analyst must control for confounding variables.

Question 5

A constable observes that every robbery in her district over the past year occurred within 200 metres of a transit hub. She proposes increased patrols near transit hubs. This recommendation is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based and logically consistent with the observed pattern

Answer

Using a consistent empirical pattern to drive a targeted operational response is sound evidence-based reasoning.

OACP - Ontario Association of Chief of Police Practice Test

OACP - Ontario Association of Chief of Police Practice Test

OACP Logical Reasoning and Analysis 5