Preparation for Test #3

We will be having Test #3 on Tuesday Feb. 17. It will cover all of chapter 11, EXCEPT pages 317-323.

As always, do the TF and Multiple choice quizzes and the PPT tutorial on the textbook website. Do the exercises in the textbook. Review the handouts. Review the chapter summary. p. 323-325. Try composing your own arguments for each of these inductive forms.

Be familiar with these concepts and able to use them:

inductive argument

strength

weakness

reliable

cogent

uncogent

inductive generalizations

arguments from analogy

causal arguments

statistical arguments

sample population

representative sample

double-blind study

reference class

analogy

correlation

cause

reverse cause

coincidence

positive correlation

negative correlation

post hoc (false cause) fallacy

Be able to identify a:

1) strong inductive argument

2) cogent inductive argument

3) strong and reliable argument

4) strong but unreliable argument

5) weak and/or uncogent argument

Be able to explain why you think an argument is reliable or not.

Be able to:

1) identify and evaluate inductive generalizations, statistical arguments, arguments from analogy and causal arguments.

2) recognize indicator words and phrases for inductive arguments

3) show how inductive conclusions can be "softened" to become stronger; or how they can be made more "sweeping" and thus be weakened

4) recognize terms that are indicator words for causal arguments

5) Know what to consider in evaluating the strength of an argument from analogy

6) List the four ways to explain a correlation

7) Know what to consider in evaluating the strength of a causal argument