Several years ago, two scientists announced that they had evidence of "cold fusion" in the laboratory, but further studies failed to replicate their findings, and it was later found that the original scientists had used sloppy methods. This highlights which of the following critical thinking principles?
A) Few "truths" do not need to be tested.
B) All evidence is not equal in quality.
C) Authority or expertise does not make the claims of the authority or expert true.
D) Critical thinking requires an open mind.

Question

Several years ago, two scientists announced that they had evidence of "cold fusion" in the laboratory, but further studies failed to replicate their findings, and it was later found that the original scientists had used sloppy methods. This highlights which of the following critical thinking principles?
A) Few "truths" do not need to be tested.
B) All evidence is not equal in quality. 
C) Authority or expertise does not make the claims of the authority or expert true.
D) Critical thinking requires an open mind.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario highlights the critical thinking principle that all evidence is not equal in quality. The initial evidence presented by the scientists was not reliable, and subsequent studies failed to reproduce their results, leading to the conclusion that the original evidence was not of high quality.

Several Years Ago, Two Scientists Announced That They Had Evidence