Critical and Creative Thinking Quiz

Which of these arguments is strongest?

• I have never seen a swan before, Bobby is a swan, Therefore, Bobby is white

• Every swan I have seen has been white, Bobby is a swan, Therefore, Bobby is white

• All swans are white, Bobby is a swan, Therefore, Bobby is white

• None of the above

What is the main difference between deductive and non-deductive arguments?

• Deductive arguments are ampliative, Non-deductive arguments are truth-preserving

• Deductive arguments expand our stock of knowledge, Non-deductive arguments do not

• Deductive arguments are based on observations, Non-deductive arguments are based on logic

• Deductive arguments are truth-preserving, Non-deductive arguments are ampliative

Which of the following is an example of non-deductive reasoning?

• All mammals lay eggs

• Every swan I have seen is white, Therefore, all swans are white

• If it rains, the ground gets wet

• 2 + 2 = 4

What is the main purpose of induction?

• To disprove scientific theories

• To expand our stock of knowledge

• To prove a specific case

• To create deductive arguments

What is a key factor for an induction to be strong?

• The sample size needs to be Big Enough

• The sample must be biased

• The sample needs to be Well Studied

• The sample size should be small

In causal reasoning, what criteria must be met to establish a strong argument?

• Correlation, Postcedence, Difference-Making, Common Effect

• Causation, Precedence, Difference-Making, Common Cause

• Correlation, Precedence, Difference-Making, No Common Cause

• Correlation, Precedence, Difference-Making, Common Cause

What is a controlled experiment used for?

• To observe natural phenomena

• To establish causation

• To prove a hypothesis

• To create deductive arguments

Which of the following is an example of a controlled experiment?

• None of the above

• Every time Jane has a headache and takes aspirin, the symptoms are relieved

• In a sample of 1000 people, those who take aspirin with headache reported a relief in symptoms

• In a sample of 1000 people who suffer headaches, 500 were given aspirin and 500 were given a placebo

What is a key factor for a strong induction?

• The sample size is too small relative to the population

• The sample size is large enough relative to the population

• The sample is not representative of the population

• The sample case is not well studied or understood

What is the main purpose of causal reasoning?

• To predict future events

• To establish correlations

• To make a claim about two events or variables and say that there exists a causal relation between them

• To make generalizations