Logical reasoning PrepTest 148 · Section 3 · Question 15

Incorrect. This answer doesn't establish whether the actions of the scientists (manipulating photos) was fraudulent. If anything, this answer suggests that the scientists didn't believe what they were doing was problematic, since they would have believed their actions would be noted.

Incorrect. Whether these digital images are necessary for submission doesn't speak to fraud.

Incorrect. While the argument needs to establish that digital images can be involved in fraud, it doesn't need to establish that digital images are the only potential source of fraud.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Strengthen with Necessary Premise

Stimulus Summary:
Dozens of authors submitted images edited in a way that violated journal guidelines, so scientific fraud is widespread.

Answer Anticipation:
The argument uses evidence about the digital manipulation of images to reach a conclusion about fraud. That's a new term, however, that isn't established in the premises and isn't clearly a result of any digital manipulation. For example, it's possible that the manipulation was done to enhance image contrast. The correct answer, therefore, will need to establish that some of the manipulation was done in a fraudulent manner.

Answer Explanation:
A necessary element of fraud is intent, so to reach a conclusion that the scientists who submitted these manipulated images committed fraud, the argument needs to establish that at least some of the scientists intended to misrepresent information.

Key Takeaway:
There are a few terms that the LSAT uses that, based on their definition, requires some intent or knowledge of what is being done. Fraud, for example, requires intent. In fact, the LSAT will frequently treat crimes as having an element of intent to them.

Incorrect. The argument doesn't need to establish that cellular biology is the only field with a fraud problem to establish that it is a field with fraud problems.