Chapter 12: Objectives

Following are the main learning objectives from the chapter.  To help you coordinate your studies, these objectives are organized into sub-sections (12-1, 12-2, etc.) and listed with the relevant page numbers from the textbook. 

12-1 (pgs. 402)
Understand what a causal argument is.

12-2 (pgs. 402-411)
Understand the two ways that causation among specific events can be established.

• Understand the kind of causal argument known as "common difference" reasoning."
• Understand the kind of causal argument know as "common thread" reasoning."

12-3 (pgs. 411-421)
Understand and be able to identify the four kinds of faulty reasoning associated with arguments for causation among specific events.

• Understand the fallacy called post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
• Understand the fallacy that can occur when a possible common thread is ignored.
• Understand the fallacy that can occur when a common thread is mistakenly assumed to exist.
• Understand the fallacy the can occur when cause and effect are reversed.

12-4 (pg. 436)
Recognize the differences between causation in populations and causation among specific events.

12-5 (pgs.436-441)
Understand what controlled cause-to-effect experiments are.

• Understand the importance of and differentiate between the experimental and control groups in cause-to-effect experiments.
• Understand the term, "frequency" as it applies to cause-to-effect experiments.
• Understand the concept, "statistical significance" as it applies to cause-to-effect experiments.
• Understand the role of sample size when evaluating the results drawn from a cause-to-effect experiment.
• Understand how analogical arguments come to play in cause-to-effect experiments when extrapolating between different types of populations.
• Understand the role of biased samples when evaluating the results drawn from a cause-to-effect experiment.

12-6 (pgs. 441-443)
Understand what nonexperimental cause-to-effect studies are.

• Differentiate between controlled cause-to-effect experiments and nonexperimental cause-to-effect studies.
• Understand how analogical arguments come to play in nonexperimental cause-to-effect studies when extrapolating between different types of populations.
• Understand the role of bias when evaluating the results drawn from a nonexperimental cause-to-effect study.
• Realize that nonexperimental cause-to-effect studies are less reliable than controlled cause-to-effect experiments when trying to draw conclusions about causations in population.

12-7 (pgs. 443-445)
Understand what nonexperimental effect-to-cause studies are.

• Differentiate between controlled cause-to-effect experiments, nonexperimental cause-to-effect studies, and nonexperimental effect-to-cause studies.
• Understand how analogical arguments come to play in nonexperimental effect-to-cause studies when extrapolating between different types of populations.
• Understand the role of bias when evaluating the results drawn from a nonexperimental effect-to-cause.
• Realize that nonexperimental effect-to-cause studies are less reliable than controlled cause-to-effect experiments when trying to draw conclusions about causations in population.