LSAT Explanation PT 34, S2, Q9: A university study reported that between

LSAT Question Stem

The argument's reasoning is flawed because the argument fails to 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Flaw question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

Let's first analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses two studies that report opposite findings about the length of the average workweek in a certain country between 1975 and 1983. One study is from a university and the other is from the government. The argument concludes that there is no need to look further for an explanation of the difference in the studies' results because they used different methods of investigation. The conclusion of the argument is that there is no need to look for an explanation for the difference in the results.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Is it possible for different methods of investigation to yield the same results?"

Now let's examine the question type and the answer choices. The question type is a Flaw question, which asks us to identify the flaw in the argument's reasoning.

a) The argument does not need to distinguish between a government study and a university study, as the source of the study is not relevant to the conclusion about the reason for the difference in results.

b) The argument does not confuse the method of investigation with the purpose of an investigation. The passage focuses on the methods used in each study, not their purposes.

c) The passage does not provide any information about whether one of the studies has been properly conducted or not. We cannot assume that one study was flawed without any evidence.

d) This is the correct answer. The argument fails to recognize that two different methods of investigation can yield identical results. By assuming that different methods automatically lead to different results, the argument overlooks the possibility that the studies could have reached the same conclusion despite using different methods.

e) The passage does not need to discuss varying economic conditions affecting the average workweek's length, as this is not relevant to the conclusion about the reason for the difference in results.

In summary, the flaw in the argument is that it assumes different methods of investigation will always lead to different results, without considering the possibility that different methods could yield identical results. The correct answer is D.