Ask E.T.: Rhetorical ploys in evidence presentations: "Rhetorical ploys in evidence presentations

Here is the beginning of a collection of rhetorical ploys in evidence presentations, verbal moves that replace real evidence.



FAUX CONSERVATISM This takes the form of 'Our results are conservative; we made conservative assumptions about the model.' The claim is that possible biases in assumptions work against the view advanced by the researcher. This is in fact an implicit error statement. Such claims are sometimes a rhetorical tactic that substitutes verbal fudge factors for quantitative assessments of error. See for example the Boeing/Columbia slide with the headline: Review of test data indicates conservatism for tile penetration



IGNORING SELF-CONTRADICTION See the Boeing slide. See also Richard Feynman's example in his Challenger report at page 137 of 'What do you care what other people think?':"