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 company's revenue grew 200% over three years, but profit margins fell from 20% to 8%. What is the most accurate overall assessment?
Answer: Revenue growth masks declining profitability efficiency
Strong revenue growth alongside shrinking margins suggests the company is earning proportionally less per dollar of sales.
A polling organization reports a margin of error of ±4% at a 95% confidence level. A candidate leads 52% to 48%. What is the most accurate interpretation?
Answer: The race is too close to call given the margin of error
The 4-point lead falls within the ±4% margin of error, so the true values could overlap and either candidate could be ahead.
A dataset lists average test scores by school. Schools with smaller class sizes consistently score higher. A superintendent concludes smaller classes cause better scores. What assumption is being made?
Answer: No other differences between schools explain the score gap
The conclusion assumes class size is the only relevant difference, ignoring other factors like teacher quality or student demographics.
A graph shows that a city's crime rate dropped 30% after a new policing strategy was introduced. Which additional evidence would most strengthen the claim that the strategy caused the drop?
Answer: Comparable cities without the strategy showed no similar drop
A control comparison with cities that did not adopt the strategy helps isolate the strategy's effect from other factors.
Data shows 90% of lung cancer patients drank water daily. A tabloid headline reads: 'Water Linked to Lung Cancer!' What is the primary error in this interpretation?
Answer: Nearly 100% of the general population also drinks water daily, eliminating any meaningful difference
Without comparing water consumption rates in the general population, the statistic is meaningless and misleading.
A company tracks customer satisfaction monthly. Scores jump from 72 to 89 in one month after a survey redesign. The most cautious interpretation is:
Answer: The change in measurement method may explain the score increase
A change in how satisfaction is measured can produce score changes that reflect the new methodology rather than actual customer experience.
A researcher reports that students using digital flashcards scored 10% higher on average than those using paper flashcards. The study used self-selected groups. What is the main interpretive limitation?
Answer: Self-selection bias means the groups may differ in motivation or prior achievement
Students who chose digital tools may already be more motivated or tech-savvy, confounding the comparison.