Logical reasoning PrepTest 140 · Section 3 · Question 18

Incorrect. The premise is that many companies purchased videoconferencing equipment and found it worthwhile, so this answer doesn't reflect the argument.

Incorrect. The conclusion is about whether videoconferencing equipment is worth the cost—there's no discussion of sufficient or necessary conditions.

Incorrect. The position is rejected based on survey results, not on an inadequate argument being made for it (which would be an absence of evidence flaw).

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Survey: Most companies that have purchased videoconferencing equipment said it was worth it.
Conclusion: Most companies would find it worth it to buy such equipment.

Answer Anticipation:
The conclusion is based on a survey, so we should start by looking at a potential sampling flaw. Was the sample large, random, and representative? There's no information on the size, but it most decidedly wasn't random—it involved companies that had already purchased videoconferencing equipment. That group is probably more likely to have already done the math and decided that their business would benefit from the technology, so the sample is skewed. That error in reasoning should show up in the correct answer.

Answer Explanation:
The conclusion is about companies that haven't yet purchased videoconferencing equipment; the sample was companies that have already purchased that equipment. It's reasonable to believe that those companies in the survey might be more likely to benefit from that equipment since they already made the business decision to purchase it. This answer highlights the sampling flaw from the stimulus.

Key Takeaway:
Whenever a survey is used to support a conclusion, start by considering a sampling flaw. Whenever that survey is of a group that has already made a decision, it's not a random sample and thus might be unrepresentative.

Incorrect. Value is a measure of benefit against cost, so cost is relevant to that consideration. The stimulus also discusses this equipment being worth the cost, which implies value.