Question 1

Consider this statement: "Developmental psychologists study the changes in behavior of individuals over fairly long periods of time." This is NOT a basic argument because it lacks:

Accepted Answer

The statement is a true statement about developmental psychologists, but it lacks evidence to support the claim that they study changes in behavior over long periods of time. Therefore, the answer is D.

Question 2

Tia's friend showed her a book about perception that presented many different visual illusions. Tia was fooled by each of the book's illusions. Finally, Tia said, "My experience tells me that all perception is inaccurate." Has Tia made a basic argument?

Accepted Answer

Tia's conclusion is based on her personal experience, which she presents as evidence. Therefore, she has made a basic argument based on her own perception. However, it is important to note that Tia's argument may be flawed because it is based solely on her own subjective experience and does not take into account other factors such as context and individual differences in perception.

Question 3

Jason tells his roommate: "A researcher quoted in a magazine article said that astrological signs correlate with people's personality traits. Therefore, my horoscope will tell me a lot about myself." Does Jason make a basic argument?

Accepted Answer

Jason makes a basic argument by offering evidence (a researcher quoted in a magazine article) to support his claim that his horoscope will tell him a lot about himself.

Question 4

"Specific parts of the foot are associated with different areas of the body. Furthermore, massaging the foot in specific places can improve health in areas of the body corresponding to those specific parts on the foot." These statements need _____ to become a basic argument.

Accepted Answer

The statements need evidence to support the claim that massaging specific parts of the foot can improve health in corresponding areas of the body. Without evidence, the statements would only be speculations.

Question 5

Cognition can be defined as the mental processes involved in encoding, storage, retrieval, and use of information. Furthermore, cognition involves several mental abilities such as attention, perception, learning, memory, and problem solving. These statements do NOT present a basic argument because they:

Accepted Answer

The statements present a set of claims about the definition and components of cognition, but they do not present a specific argument or conclusion, nor do they describe a dispute or provide a counterargument.

Question 6

"In 1963, the psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted an important experiment showing that participants were willing to administer high voltage shocks to other people in the study. This could explain why people such as the Nazis in World War II were willing to hurt other people in obedience to authority." Has a basic argument been made?

Accepted Answer

The argument presented is that Milgram's experiment shows that people are willing to hurt others in obedience to authority, which could explain why the Nazis acted the way they did. This is a claim that is supported by evidence, making it a basic argument.

Question 7

A(n) _____ is a statement asserting that someone or something has a particular characteristic or property that is assumed to be either true or false.

Accepted Answer

A claim is a statement that requires verification or evidence to prove its truthfulness, whereas a fact is a statement that is already proven to be true. A position is a viewpoint or stance taken on an issue, and an argument is a set of reasons or evidence used to persuade someone of a claim or position. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is B - claim.

Question 8

A man's brain was damaged in a motorcycle accident. When a neurologist gave the man several cognitive tests, the man showed extreme difficulty in learning new things. At the same time, the man's long-term memory for events that happened before his accident was fairly good. The neurologist told the man and his family members, "Based on my observations and tests, I have made a diagnosis. You have anterograde amnesia, a condition that impairs the ability to learn new things when damage occurs in the temporal lobe of the brain." The neurologist has made a basic argument because:

Accepted Answer

The neurologist has made a diagnostic conclusion based on the clinical evidence and test results, which supports the idea that the man has anterograde amnesia. The diagnosis is not just a set of claims, but rather is supported by evidence. Seeking a second opinion may confirm the diagnosis, but it does not change the fact that the neurologist made a well-supported argument based on the clinical data.

Question 9

Rick went to a clinical psychologist and complained that his work was never good enough. He told the psychologist that often he would do his work, feel anxious about it, and then do it again. The psychologist had Rick complete some clinical assessment inventories and discuss his other symptoms. The psychologist said that based on her evaluation and after checking symptoms in the psychiatric manual DSM-5, she decided that Rick had obsessive-compulsive disorder. The psychologist has made a basic argument because she:

Accepted Answer

The psychologist made a diagnosis based on clinical evidence, such as assessment inventories and discussion of symptoms, before drawing a conclusion about Rick's condition.

Question 10

Julio said to Arina, "I believe that the U.S. economy is the strongest in the world, and you also should believe it if you are a loyal American. " Is Julio making a basic argument?

Accepted Answer

Julio's statement lacks a logical reason supporting why the U.S. economy is the strongest; instead, he ties belief in the claim to patriotism, which does not constitute a reasoned argument.

Question 11

If a person makes a snap judgment about whether two different-colored pieces of furniture look good together, which of the following kinds of thinking is that person likely to use?

Accepted Answer

Snap judgments typically involve quick, automatic, and intuitive Type 1 thinking, rather than the slower and more deliberate Type 2 thinking or the more complex Type 3 thinking. This type of thinking is often used when making quick decisions or assessments without much information or time to deliberate. Critical thinking is a more deliberate and structured approach to analyzing information and evaluating arguments.

Question 12

If a person's task is to examine the relevant evidence to decide whether a theory is justified, which of the following kinds of thinking is required MOST to draw a good conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Type 2 thinking involves analytical, reflective, and deliberate thinking. It is required to examine evidence, weigh different possibilities, and draw a well-reasoned conclusion. Type 1 thinking, on the other hand, is quick, intuitive, and automatic, which may not always lead to accurate or justified conclusions. Type 3 thinking refers to metacognition or thinking about thinking, which may not be directly relevant in this scenario. Everyday thinking may be useful but may not necessarily require the same level of scrutiny and rigor as Type 2 thinking.

Question 13

Tina said, "If someone sees another person helping, the person observing the second person helping is more likely to help a new person who needs help." This statement is:

Accepted Answer

Tina's statement is a claim that proposes a hypothesis about why people help. However, it is not supported by any evidence or data, so it cannot be considered a basic argument.

Question 14

Marika's astrologer calculated the positions of the stars and planets at the time of Marika's birth and the current alignment of the stars and planets. After casting Marika's horoscope, he said, "Based on my calculations, I believe you are entering a very vulnerable time and should not make any major decisions in the next few days." Has Marika's astrologer made a basic argument?

Accepted Answer

Astrology, despite being considered a pseudoscience by the scientific community, involves calculations and interpretations based on the positions of celestial bodies. The astrologer's statement is based on these calculations, which serve as evidence within the context of astrology, thus constituting a basic argument.

Question 15

A(n) _____ is an idea that has been objectively demonstrated to be true by research or some other means.

Accepted Answer

A fact is an idea that has been objectively proven to be true, whereas a claim, belief, or assertion may or may not have evidence to support it.

Question 16

Suppose an experienced critical thinker discusses an important question with a person offering an opinion. The critical thinker asks the other person, "Why do you think that?" The critical thinker MOST likely asks this question when:

Accepted Answer

When the other person offers an opinion without a reason to support it, the critical thinker asks "Why do you think that?" in order to encourage the person to provide evidence and reasoning to support their opinion. This question helps the critical thinker evaluate the strength of the other person's argument and ensures that opinions are based on sound reasoning and evidence, rather than just personal beliefs or biases.

Question 17

Kei was talking to her parents about her decision of what to do after college. She said, "I have decided to go to graduate school in counseling psychology because it is the occupation that interests me the most and is prestigious." Did Kei made a basic argument?

Accepted Answer

Kei's statement includes a conclusion (her decision to go to graduate school in counseling psychology) and evidence to support that conclusion (it interests her the most and is prestigious), which constitutes a basic argument.

Question 18

Dr. Raz told her patient that her training as a reflexologist and her clinical experience had convinced her that massaging the little toe of the foot is an effective way to treat sinus problems. Dr. Raz has made a basic argument because she has:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Raz has drawn a conclusion based on her training and clinical experience, which is the essence of making a basic argument. The other choices do not accurately describe the situation.

Question 19

Anise usually has a good appetite, but she now eats less and sometimes skips breakfast. Her roommate draws the conclusion that Anise is probably on a diet. This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

The roommate's conclusion is not a fact as it is not something that can be objectively verified. It is also not just an opinion as there is some evidence (Anise eating less and skipping breakfast) to support the conclusion. Therefore, it is an inference - a conclusion based on available evidence.

Question 20

Sharise said: "Research shows that a nerve cell can fire up to about 1,000 times per second. Consequently, the brain has an upper limit on its speed of processing." Sharise presented a basic argument because she included:

Accepted Answer

By presenting the specific research that shows the firing rate of a nerve cell, Sharise provides evidence to support her claim that the brain has an upper limit on its speed of processing. This makes her argument more convincing and credible. Therefore, her statement is a claim with evidence.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Critical Thinking in Psychology and Everyday Life