Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Glaser Inferences 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A tech company piloted a four-day workweek for six months. Project completion rates remained unchanged, but employee sick days decreased by 30%. Which inference is MOST justified?
- The four-day workweek caused productivity to rise across the broader industry
- Reducing the workweek to four days appears to lower absenteeism without harming output (Correct answer)
- All companies should immediately adopt a four-day workweek to improve employee health
- Employees who work fewer days are inherently more motivated than full-week workers
Correct answer: Reducing the workweek to four days appears to lower absenteeism without harming output
The data directly shows two outcomes: stable productivity and fewer sick days. Option B restates these facts accurately without overclaiming. Option A extends the finding beyond this company; Option C prescribes universal action the data cannot support; Option D introduces a motivational explanation not mentioned in the evidence.
Question 2: A school district introduced mandatory breakfast programs for all students. The following year, math scores improved by 12% on average, while reading scores remained unchanged. Which inference is MOST warranted?
- Eating breakfast is the primary factor determining academic achievement
- The breakfast program had no meaningful effect because reading scores did not improve
- The breakfast program may have contributed to improved math performance, though other factors cannot be ruled out (Correct answer)
- Students who eat breakfast will always outperform those who skip it
Correct answer: The breakfast program may have contributed to improved math performance, though other factors cannot be ruled out
A correlational result in one subject area justifies only a cautious, qualified inference. Option C correctly acknowledges the possible link while admitting confounds. Option A overstates causation; Option B dismisses a real finding based on one null result; Option D makes an absolute claim the data cannot support.
Question 3: A county launched an anti-plastic campaign. Its landfill plastic dropped 18% over two years. Neighboring counties with no such campaign also saw a 15% reduction in the same period. Which inference is MOST supported by these facts?
- The campaign was highly effective and directly caused the plastic reduction in the county
- The campaign was completely ineffective and should be discontinued
- Broader regional or societal trends likely account for much of the county's plastic reduction (Correct answer)
- Residents in the county are more environmentally conscious than those in neighboring counties
Correct answer: Broader regional or societal trends likely account for much of the county's plastic reduction
Because neighboring counties achieved nearly the same reduction without any campaign, a wider regional force is the most logical explanation for the bulk of the change. Option A ignores the control-like comparison; Option B goes too far the other way; Option D introduces an attitude claim unsupported by the data.
Question 4: A hospital replaced paper-based outpatient check-in with an electronic system. Average wait times fell from 45 minutes to 28 minutes, and patient satisfaction scores rose from 72% to 81%. Which inference is MOST reasonable?
- Electronic check-in systems universally improve patient satisfaction in any hospital setting
- The reduction in wait times likely contributed to the improvement in patient satisfaction scores (Correct answer)
- The hospital's clinical staff became more skilled after the new check-in system was introduced
- Patients value speed of check-in more than the quality of medical treatment they receive
Correct answer: The reduction in wait times likely contributed to the improvement in patient satisfaction scores
Both changes occurred together, making it reasonable to infer a connection between shorter waits and higher satisfaction. Option A generalizes beyond this single case; Option C attributes a change in clinical skill with no supporting evidence; Option D makes a value-priority claim the data does not address.
Question 5: A public library eliminated late fees. Over the following year, on-time book returns decreased by 20%, but total books borrowed increased by 35%. Which inference is MOST justified?
- Eliminating late fees is always beneficial and should be adopted by every public library
- The drop in on-time returns proves that removing late fees causes irresponsible borrowing behavior
- While eliminating late fees reduced timely returns, it appears to have significantly increased overall library usage (Correct answer)
- The library will inevitably face a book shortage due to the surge in borrowing
Correct answer: While eliminating late fees reduced timely returns, it appears to have significantly increased overall library usage
Option C accurately reflects both observed outcomes — fewer on-time returns and more total borrowing — without assigning blame or predicting future shortages. Option A over-generalizes; Option B frames the return data as proof of irresponsibility, which goes beyond what is stated; Option D speculates about a future supply problem not indicated by the facts.
Question 6: A restaurant chain added a 'heart-healthy' menu section. Those items now make up 22% of all orders, yet overall restaurant revenue declined 8% compared to the prior year. Which inference is MOST warranted?
- Customers clearly prefer healthy food options over traditional menu items
- The healthy menu section is the direct and primary cause of the revenue decline
- The healthy section attracted measurable customer interest, but the cause of the overall revenue decline remains uncertain (Correct answer)
- Restaurants that add healthy options will consistently experience a decline in total revenue
Correct answer: The healthy section attracted measurable customer interest, but the cause of the overall revenue decline remains uncertain
The 22% order share confirms real customer interest in the healthy items, yet the 8% revenue drop has no proven link to that addition — other factors (pricing, competition, economic conditions) could be responsible. Option A overstates a preference claim; Option B asserts causation the data does not establish; Option D generalizes to all restaurants from a single case.
