Case. 3: In 1996, the Project to Reduce Violent Crime in Washington D. C. declar
ID: 3458640 • Letter: C
Question
Case. 3: In 1996, the Project to Reduce Violent Crime in Washington D. C. declared their analysis showed a significant reduction in psychiatric emergency calls, fewer complaints against the police, and an increase in President Clinton’s approval ratings during the weeks the project’s participants conducted group transcendental meditation (TM) sessions. John Hagelin, the head of the project, explained that TM accesses a collective consciousness. “This collective consciousness is one of the many forces of nature unified by Superstring theory. Therefore, TM is capable of influencing the social actions of large groups that do not practice TM.”
9. The conclusion that John Haeglin draws is:
a. Transcendental meditation influences the social actions of practitioners and non-practitioners.
b. TM reduces violent crimes when practiced by large groups of believers.
c. TM is empirical evidence that the superstring theory is the true.
d. If politicians desire better approval ratings, then they should have their constituencies practice TM.
10. This type of argument is considered to be:
(a) analogical (b) causal (d) deductive (d) inductive generalization
11. The best evaluation of this argument would be as:
(a) A weak analogy (b) A false cause (c) Invalid (d) A hasty generalization
12. Another way of evaluating this argument would be to point out that:
a. Causation is the same as correlation
b. The sample group was too small to generalize to the target group
c. There were no significant relevant similarities and differences noted between TM and superstring theory to support an adequate analogy.
d. Correlation does not equate to causation.
Explanation / Answer
9. The correct answer is Option A. The conclusion that John Haeglin draws is: Transcendental meditation influences the social actions of practitioners and non-practitioners.
10. The correct answer is Option D. This type of argument is referred to as inductive generalisation.
11. The correct answer is Option B. The best evaluation of this argument would be as a false cause.
12. The correct answer is Option D. Another way of evaluating this argument would be to point out that correlation does not equate to causation.