LSAT Explanation PT 35, S1, Q13: Journal: In several psychological studies, subjects

LSAT Question Stem

Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the journal's argument? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Weaken question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is D. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Weaken. Our task is to find the answer choice that undermines the journal's argument. Let's first break down the argument in the passage.

Passage Argument:

Premise: Subjects in psychological studies were given statements that caused them to form new beliefs.

Premise: Subjects were later told that the original statements were false.

Premise: Most subjects persevered in their newly acquired beliefs.

Conclusion: Humans continue to hold onto acquired beliefs even in the absence of any credible evidence to support them.

In this argument, the journal concludes that humans hold onto acquired beliefs without credible evidence based on the fact that subjects in psychological studies continued to believe in their new beliefs even after being told the original statements were false. The assumption here is that the subjects had no credible evidence for their new beliefs, just those false statements.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be, "Did the subjects acquire any other credible evidence to support their beliefs after forming them?"

Now let's analyze the answer choices:

a) This answer choice is incorrect because it focuses on the correctness of the beliefs, not whether there was credible evidence for the subjects to hold onto those beliefs. The conclusion is about the absence of credible evidence, not the correctness of the beliefs.

b) This answer choice is irrelevant to the argument. While it may be unrealistic to expect people to revise a belief when its original basis is undercut, this does not weaken the conclusion that humans hold onto beliefs in the absence of credible evidence.

c) This answer choice is also irrelevant. Whether the original statements were misleading or not does not provide any information about the presence or absence of credible evidence for the subjects' beliefs.

d) This is the correct answer. It undermines the conclusion by providing an alternative explanation for the subjects' perseverance in their beliefs. If the subjects had acquired confirmation of their newly acquired beliefs by the time they were told the original statements were false, it suggests that they had credible evidence to support their beliefs, contrary to the conclusion.

e) This answer choice is incorrect because it does not address the presence or absence of credible evidence for the subjects' beliefs. If the subjects were initially skeptical, it does not provide any information about whether they had credible evidence to support their new beliefs after forming them.

In summary, the correct answer is D, as it undermines the journal's argument by suggesting that the subjects had credible evidence to support their beliefs, contrary to the conclusion that humans hold onto acquired beliefs even in the absence of any credible evidence.