LSAT Explanation PT 32, S4, Q13: Harrold Foods is attempting to dominate

LSAT Question Stem

The argument commits which one of the following errors in reasoning? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The passage states that Harrold Foods is promoting its popular carbonated drink, "Hero," with a costly new advertising campaign. The passage then presents survey results showing that 72 percent of all consumers believe "Hero" already dominates the market. The argument concludes that since any product with more than 50 percent of the sales in a market is, by definition, dominant in that market, Harrold Foods dominates the market now and only needs to maintain its current market share to continue dominating the market. The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise 1: 72% of consumers believe "Hero" dominates the market.

Premise 2: A product with more than 50% of sales in a market is considered dominant.

Conclusion: Harrold Foods dominates the market now and only needs to maintain its current market share to continue doing so.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument would be: "Does the belief of 72% of consumers accurately reflect the actual market share of 'Hero'?"

Now, let's discuss the question type and the answer choices. This is a Flaw question, which asks us to identify the error in reasoning committed by the argument.

a) The argument does not confuse the result of a given market condition with the cause of that condition, so this answer choice is incorrect.

b) The argument does not mistake a necessary condition for a sufficient one. The definition of market dominance is given as a product having more than 50% of sales in a market, but the argument does not claim this condition guarantees market dominance. Instead, the argument confuses consumers' belief with actual market share. This answer choice is incorrect.

c) The argument does not treat the failure to establish that a certain claim is false as equivalent to a demonstration that the claim is true. The argument relies on the belief of consumers rather than disproving a claim. This answer choice is incorrect.

d) This answer choice is correct. The argument takes evidence that a claim (that "Hero" dominates the market) is believed to be true by 72% of consumers as evidence that the claim is actually true. However, the belief of consumers does not necessarily reflect the actual market share of "Hero."

e) The argument does not describe survey results obtained in the past as if they are bound to obtain in the future. The argument only discusses the current belief of consumers and does not make predictions about future beliefs. This answer choice is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer is D, as the argument commits the error of taking evidence that a claim is believed to be true to constitute evidence that the claim is in fact true.