LSAT Explanation PT 22, S2, Q21: A study of the difference in

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if also established by research, most helps explain the apparent discrepancy between the research results described above? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Paradox question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Paradox, and our task is to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the research results described in the passage.

Let's first break down the passage: There are two studies about the earnings of men and women in Naota. The first study shows that the average annual earnings of women employed full time is 80% of men employed full time. The second study shows that the average annual earnings of all employed women is 65% of all employed men. Our goal is to find an explanation for why there is a difference between the two studies.

Now let's analyze each answer choice, keeping in mind that we're looking for an explanation involving part-time workers, as they are not addressed in the first study.

a) This answer choice discusses the changes in salaries over the past 30 years, but we are trying to resolve the discrepancy based on current salaries. This choice doesn't address the issue at hand and can be eliminated.

b) This answer choice talks about the similarity in salaries between men and women in similar full-time positions. However, this information would be factored into both studies, so it doesn't explain the discrepancy between the two studies. We can eliminate this choice as well.

c) While this answer choice might explain changes in women's relative earnings from year to year, it doesn't address the differences between the two studies regarding current earnings. We can eliminate this choice.

d) This answer choice states that more women than men work part-time, and part-time workers typically earn less than full-time workers. This information helps explain the discrepancy between the first study (full-time workers only) and the second study (all employed workers), as the part-time workers would bring down the average annual earnings for all employed women. This is the correct answer.

e) This answer choice provides information about other countries, but we are only concerned with the differences between the two studies in Naota. Information about other countries doesn't help resolve the discrepancy between the two Naota studies, so we can eliminate this choice.

In summary, the correct answer choice is (d), as it provides an explanation involving part-time workers that helps resolve the discrepancy between the two studies in Naota.