The Skills of ArgumentThe Skills of Argument presents a comprehensive empirical study of informal reasoning as argument, involving subjects across the life span. Subjects ranging in age from adolescence to late adulthood were asked to describe their views on social problems that people have occasion to think and talk about in everyday life, such as crime and unemployment. In addition to providing supporting evidence for their theories, subjects were asked to contemplate alternative theories and counterarguments and to evaluate new evidence on the topics. This is the first major study of informal reasoning across the life span. Highlighting the importance of argumentive reasoning in everyday thought, the book offers a theoretical framework for conceptualizing and studying thinking as argument. The findings address issues of major importance to cognitive and developmental psychologists, as well as educators concerned with improving the quality of people's thinking. The work is also relevant to philosophers, political scientists, and linguists interested in informal reasoning and argumentive discourse. |
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ability absolutist alternative cause alternative theory antecedent argumentive reasoning argumentive skills asked beliefs causal lines causal theory causes prisoners certainty chapter children to fail claim cognitive cognitive psychology consistent contrast convince someone correct counterargument covariation crime topic dence epistemological evaluation examined experts fact factor fail in school following subject genuine evidence give to try hence identified inductive reasoning initial interview interviewer's kids major cause multiplist noncollege number of subjects overdetermined evidence parents parole officers Percentages of subjects person give person was wrong philosophers possible present prisoners to return probe problems produce the outcome pseudoevidence question rebuttal reflect regarding response return to crime say to show school failure school topic script someone could say someone disagreed someone prove subject's theory subjects showing successful sure teacher things thinking skills three topics tion try to show trying to convince underdetermined evidence view is right Yes Yes