Understanding Rival Causes in Causal Thinking

1. Chapter 10 Are there Rival Causes?

2. 13 1. A plausible alternative explanation that can explain why a certain outcome occurred is • an excuse • a filibuster • a rival cause

3. 10 2. The following key words indicate causal thinking, except • increases the likelihood • in contrast • contributes to • deters

4. 10 3. Whose responsibility is it to generate rival causes? • non-profit organizations • the author or speaker • the government • the critical reader or listener

5. 10 4. Causal oversimplification ignores • contributory causes • “a cause, not the cause” • critical thinking • all of the above

6. 10 5. If a study is carried out using proper scientific research you don’t have to consider rival causes. • True • False

7. 10 6. Failing to recognize that two events may be influencing each other is a reasoning fallacy • called Neglect of a Common Cause • that you should look out for • called Confusion of Cause and Effect • both b and c

8. 10 7. “Neglect of a ______ Cause” is a fallacy that doesn’t recognize that ______ events may be related because of the effects of a ______ factor. • contributory, some, outside • common, two, third • primary, associated, correlating

9. 10 8. Which is not an example of Post hoc Fallacy in reasoning? • Never walk under ladders. • My dating life increased after my cosmetic surgery. • More people lost their jobs right after Obama was elected.

10. 20 9. Which is not an example of the fundamental attribution error? • “Of course she can, she’s Hispanic.” • “That’s just the way he is.” • “The devil made me do it!” • “Boys will be boys”

11. 10 10. In evaluating rival causes, you should look at • their emotional soundness • their consistency with other knowledge that you have • their future success in explaining or predicting events