Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A doctor notes: 'The patient's temperature is 103°F.' A nurse infers, 'The patient has an infection.' The nurse's statement is:
- A fact because fever is a known sign of infection.
- An inference because fever can have multiple causes. (Correct answer)
- A clinical observation equivalent to the doctor's note.
- A value judgment about patient health.
Correct answer: An inference because fever can have multiple causes.
A fever is consistent with infection but could also result from other conditions, making the nurse's conclusion an inference.
Question 2: Which of the following pairs correctly labels each statement?
- 'She left early' = inference; 'She was upset' = fact.
- 'She left early' = fact; 'She was upset' = inference. (Correct answer)
- Both are facts because both describe observable events.
- Both are inferences because neither can be proven.
Correct answer: 'She left early' = fact; 'She was upset' = inference.
Leaving early is directly observable; being upset is an internal emotional state inferred from behavior.
Question 3: Passage: 'Enrollment at the university fell by 8% this year.' The conclusion 'The university is in financial trouble' is best classified as:
- A fact because lower enrollment reduces tuition revenue.
- An inference because enrollment decline does not confirm financial trouble. (Correct answer)
- A statistical certainty derived from the enrollment data.
- An opinion with no basis in the passage.
Correct answer: An inference because enrollment decline does not confirm financial trouble.
Financial trouble requires additional evidence; enrollment decline is one possible contributing factor, not proof of the conclusion.
Question 4: In Watson-Glaser terms, why are inferences considered less reliable than facts?
- Inferences are always false while facts are always true.
- Inferences involve interpretation beyond direct observation and may be mistaken. (Correct answer)
- Facts require expert verification while inferences do not.
- Inferences are based on emotion rather than logic.
Correct answer: Inferences involve interpretation beyond direct observation and may be mistaken.
Inferences go beyond what is directly observed, introducing the possibility of error that verified facts do not carry.
Question 5: A coworker says, 'Three people called in sick today — there must be a virus going around.' This is:
- A fact because illness is observable and measurable.
- An inference because absences could have many other explanations. (Correct answer)
- A hypothesis formally proposed for scientific testing.
- A value judgment about workplace hygiene standards.
Correct answer: An inference because absences could have many other explanations.
Assuming a virus from three absences leaps beyond the observed data to an unverified causal explanation.
Question 6: Which statement about a traffic accident report is a FACT?
- The driver was distracted by his phone.
- The crash occurred at 4:47 p.m. at the intersection of Oak and Main. (Correct answer)
- The icy road was the primary cause of the collision.
- Both drivers were negligent in their speed.
Correct answer: The crash occurred at 4:47 p.m. at the intersection of Oak and Main.
The time and location are objectively recorded data, while the other options assign causes or blame that require interpretation.
Question 7: A researcher observes that countries with higher chocolate consumption have more Nobel laureates per capita. Concluding that 'chocolate consumption causes intellectual achievement' is:
- A fact supported by the correlation data.
- An inference confusing correlation with causation. (Correct answer)
- A scientific hypothesis awaiting peer review.
- An opinion about dietary preferences.
Correct answer: An inference confusing correlation with causation.
Correlation between two variables does not establish that one causes the other; inferring causation here exceeds what the data shows.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences 3
A doctor notes: 'The patient's temperature is 103°F.' A nurse infers, 'The patient has an infection.' The nurse's statement is: