The first two steps in evidence-based practice are to identify knowledge gaps and formulate relevant questions. In this writing exercise, you will be doing just that, across three types of inductive reasoning. In addition, you will be applying evaluation techniques to determine how credible, authoritative, and reliable the arguments are.
Scenario
Imagine your boss has asked you to evaluate four ideas that she is thinking of using to implement programs. You must evaluate whether these are good ideas that she can safely and immediately green-light or whether further evidence is needed. She is anxious to move forward, so she will be unhappy if you reject a good idea; however, if you approve a bad idea, she will be equally as unhappy. She has specifically directed you not to do any outside research. You must evaluate the ideas strictly on the brief passages available. She also wants to know what specific kind of reasoning is used in each passage
Instructions
Using everything you have learned from the text, as well as any other information you have gathered from your searches related to this week's discussion, evaluate the following four arguments:
Chapter 8 Exercise 8.9 Examples 7 and 10
Chapter 9 Exercise 9.9 Example 1
Chapter 10 Exercise 10.9 Example 1
For each exercise, address the following:
Identify the type of inductive argument and any features of the way the argument is constructed that you find relevant.
Explain how convincing you think the argument is.
Does it have sufficient evidence to allow you to suggest that she move forward with the idea or does the argument have knowledge gaps?
What questions need to be answered to close these gaps?
Does the argument contain any information that adds to its authority, credibility, or reliability?