You Have Decided to Include a Source in Your Report

question 72

Multiple Choice

You have decided to include a source in your report because it is widely cited, although you think it has serious logical flaws.Which of the following is the BEST identification of how you should introduce this source, and the BEST explanation of why you should introduce it this way?

• A)Use phrasing that distances you from the source ("Smith contends that......"), since this focuses your reader's attention on the reasoning in the source
• B)Use phrasing that distances you from the source ("Smith contends that ...."), since this signals to your readers that you're going to disagree with him
• C)Use neutral phrasing ("Smith says ...."), since this emphasizes your objectivity
• D)Use neutral phrasing ("Smith says ...."), since this is a stylistic convention in reports

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Definitions:

Pragmatic Concerns

Practical considerations or limitations that affect how research or a policy can be implemented.

Type II Error

A statistical error that occurs when failing to reject a false null hypothesis; also known as a false negative.

α

The significance level in hypothesis testing, typically representing the probability of committing a Type I error.

Type II Error

The error that occurs when the null hypothesis is not rejected when it is actually false, also known as a "false negative".