Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking, 8th Ed

CHAPTER,
9
How GOOD IS THE
EVIDENCE: PERSONAL
OBSERVATION, RESEARCH
STUDIES, CASE EXAMPLES,
AND ANALOGIES?
In this chapter, we continue our evaluation of evidence. We focus on four
common kinds of evidence: personal observation, research studies, case examples,
and analogies. We need to question each of these when we encounter
them as evidence.
(Jj
Critical Question: How good is the evidence: personal observation,
research studies, case examples, and analogies?
Personal Observation
One valuable kind of evidence is personal observation, the basis for much
scientific research. For example, we feel confident of something we actually
see. Thus, we tend to rely on eyewitness testimony as evidence. A difficulty with
personal observation, however, is the tendency to see or hear what we wish to
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