Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 12, 14
- Lesson
Instructions
The checkpoint quizzes are short assessments that will check your understanding of the terms and concepts from the reading.
QUESTIONS:
Question 1
What are the three fundamental reasoning strategies listed in the text?
Question 2
What is comparative reasoning? On what skill is it based?
Question 3
We learned four tests for evaluating arguments: truthfulness of the premises, logical strength, relevance, and non-circularity. How well do these tests work with respect to evaluating comparative reasoning? Consider each of the four tests.
Question 4
Briefly explain how we can determine if one comparison is more comprehensive than another.
Question 5
According to the text, the basic question to ask when evaluating a comparison between two objects or ideas or events is “Are they alike enough in the important ways or not?” (p. 248). What are those “important ways” that determine the credibility of conclusions based on similarities?
Question 6
In your own words, define empirical reasoning.
Question 7
What are the three defining characteristics of empirical reasoning?
Question 8
What is meant by “the null hypothesis”?
Question 9
What is the purpose of empirical reasoning?
Question 10
How do we evaluate empirical reasoning?
Question 11
What part of a research study addresses the test for logical strength, and how is it addressed?
Question 12
Briefly explain the process of peer review. What is the process of peer review designed to do?
Question 13
The authors of our text state: “We have 40 years of data across multiple studies that confirm the positive correlation between taking a course in critical thinking and improvements in the students’ pretest to post-test critical thinking skills scores. It would be a mistake, therefore, all things being equal, to say that growth in critical thinking and taking a course in critical thinking are unrelated” (p. 290). The null hypothesis is false. Does that mean, therefore, that taking a critical thinking course causes students to become more skilled at critical thinking and more motivated to use those skills? Explain your answer.
Question 14
If reasoning is empirical, contains statistics, and appears in print, should we take for granted that it has passed the four tests of truthfulness of the premises, logical strength, relevance, and non-circularity? Explain your answer.
ANSWERS:
Question 1
What are the three fundamental reasoning strategies listed in the text?
Answer:
The three fundamental reasoning strategies include:
- Comparative reasoning
- Ideological reasoning
- Empirical reasoning.
Question 2
What is comparative reasoning? On what skill is it based?
Answer:
Comparative reasoning occurs when we project what is already familiar to us onto something that is not familiar in an attempt to understand it. With this type of reasoning, we can interpret unfamiliar concepts, generate inferences, and offer explanations. It is based on the skill of making comparisons with the objective of reaching a conclusion.
Question 3
We learned four tests for evaluating arguments: truthfulness of the premises, logical strength, relevance, and non-circularity. How well do these tests work with respect to evaluating comparative reasoning? Consider each of the four tests.
Answer:
- Truthfulness of premises: this test assesses whether a premise is true or false. Unfortunately, its categorization of premises is.. To access all the answers, click on the purchase button below.