Vocab, readings for Alex’s ATHK lectures and tutorials

Readings

Important

• ArgumentsIntroHandout, on eLearning.

• Vocab_and_Readings (this document!). To find some definitions of the terms, open Vocab_and_Readings.Rmd (enhanced) and you’ll see definitions in the comments, indicated by <!--- comment text -->. With this version, you can quiz yourself and subsequently check the definition in the .Rmd version.

• The power of critical thinking by Vaughn, Chapter 1, http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/search/r?SEARCH=ATHK1001 (or Chapters 2 and 3 of Bassham et al.’s Critical Thinking)

• Think Critically by Facione, Chapter 6: Evaluate the Credibility of Claims and Sources, http://opac.library.usyd.edu.au/search/r?SEARCH=ATHK1001

Actually, all the chapters of the above two books are helpful, but only one chapter from each could be put online without violating copyright.

Recommended

• r-squared http://blog.minitab.com/blog/adventures-in-statistics/regression-analysis-how-do-i-interpret-r-squared-and-assess-the-goodness-of-fit

• https://alexholcombe.wordpress.com/2016/02/03/problems-with-controlling-for-variables-quick-notes/ The first few paragraphs are helpful for explaining “controlling for”, but then it quickly becomes more advanced than you need to know.

• Common errors in Causal Reasoning, Episode 4.5 Aaron DeWald - the different possible explanations of a correlation

• Ben Goldacre on randomised controlled trials for public policy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzRs7cPrrfE

• The sugar conspiracy - example of how nutrition science goes off the rails, partly based on correlations

Logic

• How to Argue - Crash Course Philosophy #2 - arguments, logic, premises, validity, soundness,

• The power of critical thinking by Vaughn, Chapter 3. Deduction and induction.

• Induction & Abduction: Crash Course Philosophy #3 - induction, abduction (we won’t distinguish between induction and abduction, will just use induction to refer to both)

• Deductive and inductive arguments, Episode 1.3 by Aaron DeWald

Informal fallacies

• Charitable reconstruction, Straw Man, Ad hominem

Who to believe?

• Bassham et al., Critical Thinking, pp.145-9 or thereabouts

Confirmation bias

• The backfire effect Exposing someone to opposing facts can harden their position

Real-world conversations

• How do you change voters’ minds? Have a conversation

• David McRaney on “Why it’s so hard to change someone’s mind”

• No, you’re not entitled to your opinion

Further reading

• Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

• You are not so smart by David McRaney

Vocabulary

• Correlation, used in this class to mean linear correlation.
• Quasi / natural experiment
• Observational study
• r
• r-squared and shared variance
• IV vs DV
• Confound
• Omitted variable
• Spurious correlation
• Three categories of explanation of a correlation
• Contingency table
• Residual
• Nonlinear model
• Generalize (in the context of research methods)
• Epidemiology
• RCT

• Expectancy effect

• Blinding
  • Single-blind
  • Double-blind
  • Triple-blind
• Excess of statistical comparisons

• Experimentation effect

• Casting arguments

• Controlled variable

• “Controlling for” a variable

• Necessary versus sufficient

• Syllogisms

• Antecedent

• Consequent

• Validity

• Soundness

• Deduction

• Induction

• Enthymeme

• Strong

• Cogent

• Hyperbole

• Circularity

Informal fallacies

• Fallacy of the single cause

• Ad hominem

• Straw man

• Slippery slope

Other

• dogmatism

• Survivorship

• Confabulation

• Enthymeme

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