LSAT Explanation PT 31, S3, Q12: Several recent studies establish that most

LSAT Question Stem

Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT: 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is C. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Weaken Except, which means we are looking for an answer choice that does NOT weaken the argument presented in the passage.

The argument in the passage is structured as follows:

Premise: Several recent studies establish that most people would want to be informed if they had any serious medical condition.

Premise: In each study, over 80 percent of the people surveyed indicated that they would want to be told.

Conclusion: Most people would want to be informed if they had any serious medical condition.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be, "Were the people surveyed in the studies representative of the general population?"

Now, let's analyze the answer choices:

a) In another recent study, most of the people surveyed indicated that they would not want to be told if they had a serious medical condition.

- This answer choice weakens the argument by introducing conflicting information. If another study shows the opposite results, it casts doubt on the conclusion. This is not the correct answer.

b) People often do not indicate their true feelings when responding to surveys.

- This answer choice weakens the argument by questioning the accuracy of the survey results. If people do not reveal their true feelings, then the conclusion might not be valid. This is not the correct answer.

c) Some of the researchers conducting the studies had no background in medicine.

- This answer choice does not weaken the argument, as the researchers' medical background is not relevant to the conclusion. The survey results are about people's preferences, not medical expertise. This is the correct answer.

d) Some questions asked in the studies suggested that reasonable people would want to be told if they had a serious medical condition.

- This answer choice weakens the argument by suggesting that the studies may have been biased. If the questions led participants to give a particular response, the conclusion might not be valid. This is not the correct answer.

e) The people surveyed in the studies were all young students in introductory psychology courses.

- This answer choice weakens the argument by suggesting that the surveyed population might not be representative of the general population. If the survey results are biased, the conclusion might not be valid. This is not the correct answer.

In summary, the correct answer is (c) because it does not weaken the argument presented in the passage. The other answer choices all introduce information that casts doubt on the conclusion or the relationship between the premises and the conclusion.