PAPA Critical Thinking & Logical Reasoning Flashcards

Which of the following is an example of deductive reasoning?

Answer: Applying a general rule to reach a specific conclusion

Deductive reasoning starts with a general premise and applies it to reach a specific, logical conclusion.

When an author presents only evidence that supports one side of an issue, this is called:

Answer: Bias

Bias occurs when a writer presents information in a way that unfairly favors one perspective.

Which type of reasoning involves drawing general conclusions from specific observations?

Answer: Inductive

Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations to a broader general conclusion.

A valid argument must have:

Answer: A conclusion that logically follows from the premises

An argument is valid when its conclusion logically follows from its premises, regardless of whether those premises are true.

Which of the following is an example of circular reasoning?

Answer: The Bible is true because it says so in the Bible

Circular reasoning uses the conclusion as a premise, as when a source is called reliable because it says it is.

Evaluating the credibility of a source primarily involves checking:

Answer: The author's expertise, evidence quality, and potential bias

Credibility depends on the author's qualifications, the quality of evidence provided, and any identifiable bias.