1. Mill's methods claim that when there is a phenomenon or event that is regularly correlated with another phenomenon or event, then the two events or phenomena may be causally connected. Which of Mill's methods does this describe?
Method of agreement
Method of difference
Joint method of agreement and difference
Method of concomitant variation
2. Which of the following is the weakest example of causal reasoning?
Claiming that a rock broke the window when one finds a shattered window and a stone in one's living room
Claiming that the caffeine from the coffee one drank at 10p.m. made it hard to sleep
Claiming that one got into a car wreck because someone was texting
Claiming that one lost a bet because a black cat walked across one's path
3. Inductive arguments __________.
are arguments in which the premises prove the conclusion
have premises that increase the likelihood that the conclusion is true
can be valid or invalid
represent a smaller number of arguments than deductive arguments
4. In the "What is a 'Strong' Argument?" video, what is the line at which we call an argument logically strong?
There is no strict line at which inductive arguments become strong; it is a matter of context.
It is strong if it confers a 90% likelihood on its conclusion.
It is only truly strong if the conclusion is absolutely certain.
It has all true premises and the conclusion is likely
5. This is the term that one uses to describe a sample that aligns well with the larger group one is studying.
Valid
Statistical
Representative
Skewed
6. What is a hypothesis?
The outcome of an experiment
A conjecture about how something works
A proven truth
A rejected theory
7. What type of inductive argument is the following example?
98% of dogs like bones. Therefore my dog will like this bone.
Argument from analogy
Inference to the best explanation
Statistical syllogism
Inductive generalization
8. Inductive arguments should never be characterized as __________.
weak
very weak
valid
strong
9. Which of the following is necessary in order for an explanation to be adequate?
It does not agree with other human knowledge.
It provides an overly complex solution.
It is noncircular.
It is contradicted by other instances.
10. If thing A is always true whenever thing B is, then ____________.
B is a sufficient condition For A
A is a sufficient condition for B
A and B are both sufficient conditions for each other
None of the above
11. One way to make an inductive argument weaker is to __________.
strengthen the conclusion
eliminate the conclusion
make the argument valid
strengthen a premise
12. Inference to the best explanation is often expressed in which invalid argumentative form?
Affirming the consequent
Denying the consequent
Denying the antecedent
Affirming the antecedent
13. What type of inductive reasoning is the following argument?
Dentists say that flossing is important, so it must be true.
Statistical syllogism
Argument from authority
Inductive generalization
This is not an inductive argument.
14. Consider the following argument.
It rained today.
It is going to rain tomorrow.
Which of the following would make this argument stronger?
Evidence that the atmospheric conditions tomorrow will be the same
Asking one's friends if they think it is going to rain
Turning the argument into a deductive argument about the weather
Consulting someone who reads tea leaves and asking what he or she believes
15. Good explanations often can explain other phenomena. The name for this is __________.
explanatory power
fecundity
testability
falsifiability
16. Which of the following conclusions is likely to have the strongest inductive evidence?
Your teacher will eat an egg For break Fast tomorrow.
The Colts will win the Super Bowl next year.
There will be nuclear war next month.
The earth will continue to orbit the sun over the next five days
17. The acceptable confidence level for an analysis or experiment __________.
is the same across all fields
does not change based on what one is trying to determine
is more important for celebrities than for others
is often more than 90% in academic analyses
18. "When I once visited Texas, it was hot. So the next time I visit Texas, it will be hot." This is an example of a __________.
strong inductive argument
valid inductive argument
sound deductive argument
weak inductive argument
19. One way to make an inductive argument stronger is to __________.
Make the conclusion weaker
Eliminate the conclusion
Make the argument valid
Pretend your argument is a good one
None of the above
20. Mill's methods claim that if two or more cases share the same effect and share only one common characteristic, then this characteristic may be related to the cause of the effect. Which of Mill's methods does this describe?
Method of agreement
Method of difference
Method of concomitant variation
Joint method of agreement and difference