Notes: Statement and Course of Action | Logical Reasoning for UGC NET PDF Download

Introduction

• A scenario is presented as a statement, accompanied by potential courses of action relevant to that scenario.
• Candidates are tasked with determining which course of action should be pursued based on the provided statement or event.
• A course of action is deemed appropriate if it effectively resolves, alleviates, or diminishes the issue and if it is a feasible solution.

Importance in Various Examinations

• Statement and Course of Action reasoning questions are prevalent in diverse government exams, making this section crucial within analytical reasoning.
• This section demands a solid grasp of key concepts, which we will delve into, complemented by solved examples, practice queries, valuable tips, and strategies.
• To enhance your understanding, we will explore this topic comprehensively. Let's begin by examining the fundamentals.

What is Statement and Course of Action?

• A course of action refers to a step taken to address a specific situation, problem, or circumstance with the aim of either completely resolving the issue or reducing its complexity and enhancing the overall scenario.
  
• Questions in this category often involve scenarios with two or three proposed courses of action.
• In our daily lives, we encounter challenges related to work, travel, administration, social interactions, relationships, and more. These challenges necessitate solutions, and the process of determining the appropriate way to address them is termed the correct course of action.
• A course of action is deemed suitable or acceptable only if it either fully or partially resolves the problem; otherwise, it is considered inadequate. Solutions can vary based on the specific circumstances of the problem, highlighting the need for a careful analysis to identify the correct course of action.

Types of Statement and Course of Action Reasoning

(a) Experience prediction

• In this type of Statement and Course of Action reasoning, the statement given can be a relatively new one. The solution in this case may not be a universal fact, but the experience predicts that it is true.

(b) Logical Prediction

• In this type of Statement and Course of Action reasoning, the given course of action can be relatively new one and cannot be a universal fact, but from a logical point of view it is true.

(c) Prevailing notion of truth

• This category involves statements and proposed actions that may be deemed effective solutions, yet they do not align with the generally accepted notion of truth.

Understanding Statement and Course of Action Reasoning

• When discussing Statement and Course of Action reasoning, the suggested course of action may not represent an established fact universally, but it holds logical validity.
• In these scenarios, solutions are considered strong but lack alignment with the prevailing understanding of truth.
• It is crucial to grasp the concept of negating a statement within this context.

How to Solve Questions Based on Statement and Course of Action – Tips and Tricks

Candidates can find various tips and tricks from below for solving the questions related to the Statement and Course of Action reasoning section.
Tip #1: Candidates should ensure that the chosen answer is practically true and suitable for the long term.
Tip #2: The solution should not have any negative effects afterwards.

Examples

Directions: For each statement, decide which of the given courses of action logically follow(s).

Give Answer: (A) If only Course of Action I follows
(B) If only Course of Action II follows
(C) If either Course of Action I or II follows
(D) If neither Course of Action I nor II follows
(E) If both Course of Action I and II follow

Courses of Action:
 I. The government should impose restrictions on the use of water by residents.
II. The government should make arrangements for rainwater harvesting.

Ans: (E) If both Course of Action I and II follow.
Sol: To address the problem of depleting water levels, both imposing restrictions and arranging for rainwater harvesting are necessary actions.

Courses of Action:
I. All factories in the city should be closed down.
II. The government should initiate measures to reduce vehicular emissions.

Ans: (B) If only Course of Action II follows.
Sol: Closing all factories is an extreme and impractical measure, whereas reducing vehicular emissions is a more feasible solution.

Courses of Action:
I. The traffic police should immediately put up traffic signals at all major intersections.
II. The government should ban the use of all private vehicles during peak hours.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Installing traffic signals at major intersections can help reduce accidents, while banning private vehicles during peak hours is not practical.

Courses of Action:
I. The school management should take steps to improve teaching standards.
II. The school management should close the school if the results do not improve.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Improving teaching standards is a reasonable action, while closing the school is extreme and counterproductive.

Courses of Action:
I. The company should reduce its workforce to cut costs.
II. The company should explore new markets and products to increase revenue.

Ans: (B) If only Course of Action II follows.
Sol: Exploring new markets and products is a proactive solution to increase revenue, while reducing the workforce may not address the underlying issues.

Courses of Action:
I. The government should offer scholarships to students who choose science courses.
II. The government should make science courses compulsory for all students.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Offering scholarships can incentivize students to choose science courses, while making science courses compulsory is not practical.

Courses of Action:
 I. The hospital should hire temporary medical staff.
II. The hospital should reduce the number of patients it admits.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Hiring temporary medical staff is a practical solution, while reducing the number of patients is not feasible as it affects healthcare delivery.

Courses of Action:
 I. The police should increase patrolling in high-crime areas.
II. The government should impose a curfew in the city.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Increasing police patrolling is a practical and targeted approach, while imposing a curfew is extreme and disrupts normal life.

Courses of Action:
 I. The teachers should provide additional support to students who are struggling.
II. The school should penalize students who fail to complete assignments on time.

Ans: (A) If only Course of Action I follows.
Sol: Providing additional support is constructive, while penalizing students may not address the root cause of the problem.

Courses of Action:
 I. The government should promote the hill station through advertisements.
II. The government should improve the infrastructure and facilities at the hill station.

Ans: (E) If both Course of Action I and II follow.
Sol: Both promoting the hill station and improving its infrastructure are necessary actions to attract more tourists.