The president of Big Hotdog, Inc. considered changing the wage structure to increase worker productivity. She called in the firm's top management team to make a decision. The vice president for sales said, "I read an article in last week's Fortune magazine on it, and it proves that the proposed new wage structure always is best." Which error does the vice president of sales make?
A) premature closure
B) appeal to tradition as a basis of knowledge
C) appeal to authority as a basis of knowledge
D) overgeneralization

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The vice president for sales is making an appeal to authority as a basis of knowledge by referencing an article in Fortune magazine as proof that the proposed new wage structure is always best. This suggests that the decision is being influenced by the credibility of the source rather than a critical evaluation of the evidence.

The President of Big Hotdog, Inc