Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Recognizing Bias in Reasoning 2

Question 1

A financial advisor warns a client about investing in stocks by describing only the worst market crashes in recent memory. Which bias is most influencing this advice?

Accepted Answer

Availability heuristic

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Selection bias

Answer

Attribution bias

Question 2

A study concludes that people who exercise regularly are more successful in their careers, based on a survey of 40 professional athletes. Which flaw most weakens this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Selection bias

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Framing effect

Question 3

An argument states: 'Our company has operated this way for 50 years, so it must be the correct approach.' Which reasoning error does this reflect?

Accepted Answer

Appeal to tradition

Answer

Straw man

Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

Begging the question

Question 4

A reviewer dismisses a policy proposal by saying, 'We cannot trust this plan because its author was once convicted of fraud.' Without further evidence, this argument commits which error?

Accepted Answer

Ad hominem

Answer

Straw man

Answer

Red herring

Answer

False dichotomy

Question 5

Surveys about organ donation show dramatically different consent rates depending on whether the default option is 'opt in' or 'opt out.' This difference in outcomes is best explained by which bias?

Accepted Answer

Framing effect

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Attribution bias

Question 6

When assessing whether an argument is biased, which question is MOST analytically useful to ask?

Accepted Answer

Does the argument rely on a non-representative or one-sided set of evidence?

Answer

Does the argument use technical vocabulary?

Answer

Is the argument structured in bullet points?

Answer

Does the argument cite at least three sources?

Question 7

After a major stock market crash, a financial commentator states, 'The warning signs were obvious all along — anyone paying attention could have predicted this.' Which bias does this statement best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Gambler's fallacy