Definition: Argumentation — Psychometric Glossary
Argumentation is the art of building persuasive reasoning from premises to support a conclusion. A skill evaluated in the logic section of the psychometric test.
- Definition and structure of an argument
- Identifying premises and conclusions
- Argumentation exercises for the psychometric test
- Recognizing strong and weak arguments
What is argumentation?
Argumentation is the process of advancing reasons (premises) to support a conclusion. A well-constructed argument relies on relevant, sufficient, and acceptable premises that logically lead to the defended conclusion.
The structure of an argument typically includes: premises (facts or reasons), reasoning (the logical link), and conclusion (what one seeks to demonstrate). Identifying these elements is the first step in argumentative analysis.
Argumentation in the psychometric test
Argumentation questions in the psychometric test ask you to analyze arguments: identify the conclusion, spot the premises, evaluate the strength of the argument, or find what would weaken or strengthen it.
'Weaken/strengthen' questions are particularly common: you are given an argument and must choose which new piece of information would most weaken or strengthen the conclusion.
Frequently asked questions
How to identify the conclusion of an argument?
Look for conclusion markers: 'therefore,' 'consequently,' 'it follows that,' 'this proves that.' The conclusion is often at the beginning or end of the paragraph. Ask yourself: what is the author trying to demonstrate?
What is a fallacious argument?
A fallacious argument uses misleading reasoning. Common fallacies include appeal to authority, ad hominem attacks, hasty generalization, and false dilemma. In the test, you're not asked to name fallacies but to identify logical flaws.
How to strengthen or weaken an argument?
To strengthen, add a premise that supports the link between existing premises and the conclusion. To weaken, find information that breaks that link or offers an alternative explanation. Focus on the implicit assumptions of the argument.
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