Errors in Reasoning

1. Errors in Reasoning • Goal: Identify common types of errors and avoid them. • Many of these come up in the WASI • A major reason for taking it is so that you can self-identify errors that you tend to make • Many points are lost on tests/homeworks in school come from errors in reasoning, not from lack of knowledge or skills. • You can train yourself to reduce making this sort of mistake.

2. Types of Errors • Lack of knowledge or skill • This isn’t our focus, and its often not the issue • Failure to observe and use all relevant facts of a problem • This might come from poor reading comprehension (which in turn often comes from rushing) • Failure to approach the problem in a systematic manner, skip steps or jump to conclusion • Failure to spell out relationships fully • Being sloppy or inaccurate – making “simple” mistake

3. Error Types Checklist • Inaccuracy in Reading • Inaccuracy in Thinking • Weakness in Problem Analysis; Inactiveness • Lack of Perseverance

4. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator • Four dichotomies that define sixteen categories • Each is a continuum, not a binary choice • This is not “what you are” • It is “right now, what you prefer” (and strength of preference) • For example, most introverts can operate in extrovert mode when needed. • Results can vary from test to test or day to day by several points. • Results are generally consistent, between “adjacent” types • Wikipedia has good articles for some types