Watson Evaluating Source Credibility

Question 1

A pharmaceutical company publishes a study showing its new drug reduces cholesterol by 40%. Which factor most directly undermines the credibility of this source?

Accepted Answer

The company has a direct financial interest in the drug's success

Answer

A source with a financial stake in the outcome has a conflict of interest that can bias research design, data selection, or reporting — even when a study appears rigorous. This is one of the most significant credibility concerns in evidence evaluation.

Question 2

Which source would be MOST credible when evaluating claims about the long-term safety of a new industrial chemical?

Accepted Answer

An independent peer-reviewed study by university toxicologists with no industry funding

Answer

Independence from financial interest, relevant expertise, and peer review are the three pillars of source credibility. Option C satisfies all three: the researchers have no financial stake, have relevant scientific credentials, and their work has been evaluated by other experts.

Question 3

A city council member argues a new highway will reduce commute times, citing a study funded by the construction company that will build it. What is the PRIMARY credibility concern?

Accepted Answer

The study may have been designed or reported to favor the funder's interests

Answer

When a study is funded by a party that benefits from a particular result, there is a structural incentive to design methodology, select data, or frame conclusions in favorable ways. This conflict of interest is the core credibility issue here.

Question 4

A health magazine claims a specific berry improves memory, citing 'recent research.' Which question is MOST important for assessing this claim's credibility?

Accepted Answer

Was the research peer-reviewed, and what was the sample size?

Answer

Vague references to 'recent research' without details about peer review or study scale are a credibility red flag. Peer review establishes that independent experts evaluated the methodology, and sample size affects whether conclusions can be generalized.

Question 5

Two witnesses describe a car accident differently. Witness A is a trained traffic officer standing five metres away. Witness B is a pedestrian 200 metres away wearing headphones. Whose account is more credible?

Accepted Answer

Witness A, because professional training and proximity improve observational accuracy

Answer

Credibility depends on conditions of observation and relevant expertise. Witness A's proximity eliminated distance distortion, and professional training in traffic assessment improves the ability to interpret what is observed. No witness is infallible, but these factors make Witness A's account more reliable.

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Practice Test

Watson Evaluating Source Credibility