Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Distinguishing Facts from Inferences Questions and Answers Flashcards
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A financial analyst reviews data showing that a tech company's stock price dropped 20% after its earnings report. The analyst writes that investors have lost confidence in the company's leadership. The analyst's statement is:
Answer: An inference about investor sentiment not directly shown by price data
A stock price drop is a measurable fact, but attributing it to lost confidence in leadership is an inference about investor motivation.
A research team publishes findings that 68% of surveyed adults exercise fewer than three times per week. A health magazine headline reads: 'Americans Are Becoming Lazier Than Ever.' The headline represents:
Answer: An inference that adds judgment and generalization beyond the survey data
The survey provides exercise frequency data, but labeling people as lazier than ever is an inference that adds evaluative judgment not present in the raw findings.
Police records show that traffic accidents at a particular intersection increased from 12 to 28 in one year. A resident petitions the city, stating that the traffic light timing is the primary cause. The resident's claim is:
Answer: An inference attributing a specific cause to the observed increase
The accident increase is factual, but identifying traffic light timing as the primary cause is an inference without supporting engineering analysis.
A university admissions office reports that applications rose by 22% following a national ranking improvement. The dean states that the ranking is the sole reason for the increase. How should the dean's statement be classified?
Answer: As an inference because it attributes the entire increase to one factor
While both the ranking improvement and application increase are facts, claiming the ranking is the sole reason is an inference that excludes other possible contributing factors.
A government agency releases data indicating that rural broadband coverage expanded from 60% to 78% over three years. A journalist writes that the digital divide between urban and rural communities is closing. The journalist's statement is:
Answer: An inference that interprets the data as evidence of a narrowing gap
The broadband expansion is a fact, but concluding that the overall digital divide is closing requires inference about urban rates and other factors not provided in the data.
A clinical trial reports that patients taking a new medication showed a 30% reduction in symptoms over eight weeks. A pharmaceutical representative tells doctors that the medication is more effective than all existing treatments. The representative's claim is:
Answer: An inference that compares the medication to treatments not evaluated in the trial
The trial measured symptom reduction for one medication but did not compare it to all existing treatments, making the representative's claim an inference beyond the data.