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Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Flashcards

7 cards from real TALENTLENS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking flashcards as text

  1. A study shows that employees who attend weekly team meetings report higher job satisfaction. A manager concludes that holding more meetings will increase satisfaction. Which critical thinking error does this illustrate?

    Answer: Confusing correlation with causation

    Correlation between meetings and satisfaction does not establish that meetings cause higher satisfaction; another factor may explain both.

  2. Premise: All certified accountants passed the CPA exam. Premise: Maria passed the CPA exam. Conclusion: Maria is a certified accountant. This argument is:

    Answer: Invalid because the conclusion does not follow from the premises

    The argument commits the fallacy of affirming the consequent; passing the CPA exam is necessary but may not be sufficient for certification.

  3. A neighborhood sees crime rise after a new streetlight is installed. A resident argues the streetlight caused the crime increase. What assumption must be true for this argument to hold?

    Answer: Streetlights attract criminals who prefer lit environments

    The causal claim requires assuming some mechanism by which the streetlight leads to more crime.

  4. Which of the following is the STRONGEST counter-argument to the claim: 'Social media use causes depression in teenagers'?

    Answer: Teenagers who are already depressed may seek more social media use, not the reverse

    Reverse causation—depressed teens using social media more—directly undermines the direction of the causal claim.

  5. A politician states: 'Either we cut the education budget or schools will collapse.' A critical thinker should first question:

    Answer: Whether these are truly the only two options available

    The statement presents a false dichotomy; other budgetary solutions may exist beyond the two presented.

  6. Read the following argument: 'No studies have proven that this supplement is harmful, so it must be safe.' This is an example of:

    Answer: Appeal to ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam)

    Absence of evidence of harm is not the same as evidence of safety; this is the classic appeal to ignorance.

  7. A company reports that customer complaints dropped 40% after launching a new service portal. The CEO claims the portal solved customer dissatisfaction. What additional information would MOST strengthen this conclusion?

    Answer: Customer satisfaction survey scores also improved over the same period

    Independent evidence of improved satisfaction would corroborate the causal link between the portal and reduced complaints.