Causal claims are sometimes justified by explanations that make them seem plausible. Or they may be justified by evidence indicating that the causal effect in fact occurs. Both kinds of justifications have a contribution to make in supporting causal claims. And each has its associated strengths and weaknesses. Explanation offers understanding, but may be false.
Evidence offers truth, but fails to explain.
Critical for education for thinking to promote is meta-level understanding of these epistemological strengths and weaknesses of the two kinds of justifications. More important than the choice students make, however, are the reasons they give for their choices. They were asked to indicate the strengths of the argument they chose and the weaknesses of the other argument. They were also asked if the chosen argument had any weaknesses and the other argument any strengths. Overall, less than half of participants in this study were able to cite the epistemic strengths and weaknesses of evidence vs. explanation.