Interpreting Evidence and Data Flashcards
7 cards from real Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Interpreting Evidence and Data flashcards as text
A study reports that cities with more coffee shops per capita have higher average incomes. Which conclusion is best supported by this data?
Answer: Higher income and coffee shop density are correlated
The data shows a correlation between two variables but does not establish which causes which.
A bar chart shows that Product A outsold Product B in Q1 and Q2 but the chart's y-axis starts at 50,000 units rather than zero. What is the most important interpretive caution?
Answer: The visual gap exaggerates the actual difference in sales
A truncated y-axis makes small absolute differences appear much larger than they are.
Researchers find that 80% of people who ate the cafeteria salad got sick, but 60% of those who did not eat it also got sick. What should you conclude?
Answer: The salad is not the sole or primary cause of illness
Because many non-salad eaters also got sick, the salad alone cannot explain the outbreak.
A line graph shows employee satisfaction rising from January to June, then the data line ends. A manager claims satisfaction will continue rising through December. This claim is best described as:
Answer: An extrapolation beyond the available evidence
Extending a trend beyond the observed period is extrapolation, which is not supported by the existing data alone.
A dataset shows that students who sleep more than 8 hours score higher on exams. A classmate says, 'So sleeping more makes you smarter.' What flaw exists in this reasoning?
Answer: It confuses correlation with causation
The data shows an association; it does not prove that additional sleep directly causes higher intelligence or scores.
A report states that average household income in a neighborhood rose 15% last year. Which additional piece of information would most change the interpretation of this finding?
Answer: Whether the gain was driven by a few very high earners or spread broadly
Averages can be skewed by outliers, so knowing the distribution reveals whether the gain was widespread or concentrated.
Two surveys ask about support for a new transit policy. Survey A finds 72% in favor; Survey B finds 41% in favor. The most likely explanation for this discrepancy is:
Answer: Differences in question wording, sampling, or timing
Survey results often diverge because of methodological differences such as question framing, sample demographics, or when the survey was conducted.