cause and effect
Cause & Effect Analysis
Divides occurrences into their elements to find relationships.
Answers why and what if
Purpose of Cause & Effect Analysis:
Explain or Persuade
Order experience and pin down connections to explain why something happened or what its outcome was or will be.
Demonstrate why one explanation of causes is more accurate than another or how a proposed action will produce desirable or undesirable consequences.
Cause vs. Effect
CAUSE:
Which of the events preceding an outcome actually made it happen?
What caused X to happen?
Why has X happened?
EFFECT:
Which of the events following an occurrence actually resulted from it?
What happens to X when Y happens?
How will X impact Y?
Causal Chain
When causes & effects occur in a sequence, each contributing to the next.
Each event is the cause of an effect, which is the cause of another effect and so on.
Time & Significance can overlap
Sorting Events - TIME
Immediate Causes or Effects: occur nearest an event
Remote Causes or Effects: occur further away in time
Distinguishing - IMPORTANCE
Major Causes or Effects: directly & primarily responsible
Minor Causes or Effects: contribute to final outcome
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Fallacies
Correlation does not equal causation
What are Fallacies?
A false idea or notion; incorrectness of reasoning or belief; flaw in structure of an argument that renders its conclusion invalid or suspect
Defects that weaken arguments
Creates barriers to common ground
Train yourself to look for them in your own and others’ writing in order to better evaluate the arguments you make, read, hear
We need to avoid fallacies in our Cause/Effect Research Paper, and we need to avoid fallacies as we approach the Argument prompt!
Post hoc (ergo propter hoc)
Latin for “after this, therefore because of this"
Why is this a fallacy?
This is an error in logic related to cause and effect. the arguer tries to "win" by stating definitively that A caused B.
Correlation does not equal causation.
In this fallacy, the arguer tries to win by using the following strategy:
claiming that event b was caused by event a, because event a preceded event b
Examples:
I took this medicine and it cured my cold.
The school's Chess Club was very upset with school administrators when their tournament was canceled.
Two days later, the school offices were vandalized.
The Chess Club must have done it.
hasty generalization
Why is this a fallacy?
because the arguer is basing the stance on too little evidence.
In this fallacy, the arguer tries to win by using the following strategies:
arriving at a claim based on too little evidence, too small a sample, or on evidence that is bad or misinterpreted.
Forms the basis of stereotypes
Example:
I took one course in logic and it was really difficult. All courses in logic must be really difficult.
I bought a used car and it broke down on the road. All used cars must be unreliable.
Oversimplification
Why is this a fallacy?
because the arguer avoids complexity and either intentionally or unknowingly takes a complex web of cause and effect and makes it illogically one-dimensional
In this fallacy, the arguer tries to win by using the following strategy:
Approaching a complex cause and effect relationship with a claim that oversimplifies the circumstances.
Example:
If everyone were permitted to carry a concealed weapon, no one would ever commit a crime"
oversimplifies the relationship between gun ownership and crime.
the slippery slope
Why is this a fallacy?
because the arguer goes too far, claiming that a policy or circumstance will cause a chain reaction with dire consequences.
In this fallacy, the arguer tries to win by using the following strategy:
Exaggerating the potential for a chain reaction that will result in horrible and unwanted circumstances.
Example:
Animal experimentation reduces our respect for life. If we don't respect life, we will become tolerant of violent acts like murder. It will be the end of civilization.
Avoiding Cause/Effect Fallacies:
To avoid cause-and-effect fallacies (false cause, post hoc ergo propter hoc), distinguish correlation from causation, look for alternative explanations, and test for third-variable problems. Verify that one event truly caused another, rather than just preceding it. Use evidence to support connections, not just temporal sequence.
Here are specific suggestions to avoid cause and effect fallacies:
Apply the "Therefore" Test: Test the causal link by reversing the order, such as checking if B actually leads to A, to ensure the relationship is not assumed incorrectly.
Identify Third Variables: Consider that a hidden factor (variable C) might be causing both event A and event B.
Seek Alternative Explanations: Actively look for other reasons why two events might be related, rather than jumping to a single cause.
Here are specific suggestions to avoid cause and effect fallacies:
Evaluate Evidence Strength: Ensure that evidence is strong and not just based on temporal order, and avoid assuming that because one event happened after another, the first caused the second.
Use Visual Tools: Employ "Cause Mapping" to visualize how multiple factors may contribute to an outcome.
Here are specific suggestions to avoid cause and effect fallacies:
Avoid "Hasty Generalizations": Do not assume that a limited, personal experience applies to a broader context.
Question "Slippery Slope" Claims: Avoid assuming a direct, inevitable chain reaction from a single event without evidence.
Test Your Argument: Pretend you disagree with your own conclusion to identify weak points, or ask a trusted, experienced peer for feedback.