PrepTest 133

Incorrect. The argument doesn't delve into causality, so this answer describes the wrong error in reasoning.

Incorrect. Again, there's no causality here, and the argument doesn't jump between motive and outcome, so this answer is also incorrect.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
A survey showed that journalism students like hard-hitting news, not gossip. Therefore, the current trend towards gossip isn't reflecting the public's interest.

Answer Anticipation:
Whenever a survey/poll/study is done, it's always important to start by considering the sample, and a potential correlation/causation flaw. There's no causality in the conclusion, so there's no correlation/causation flaw, but there is an issue with the sample.

Here, the survey quizzed "journalism students" about their news preferences, and it uses the results to draw a conclusion about the "interests of the public." There's good reason to believe that future journalists may prefer hard-hitting journalism more than the average member of the public. Since there's reason to believe the sample isn't representative of the group featured in the conclusion, the correct answer should bring up this type of flaw.

Answer Explanation:
The conclusion is about the public, but the sample was journalism students. There's good reason to believe that those students won't represent the average view on what topics journalists should cover!

Key Takeaway:
Any argument that kicks off with a survey, study, or poll should get you thinking about a potential sampling flaw (and a correlation/causation flaw, though those are more common in studies than in surveys).

Incorrect. It's unclear who's likely to reject the argument's conclusion, and it's also unclear who is being unfairly represented, so this answer is out.

Incorrect. The author doesn't admit that her conclusion is unsupported, so this answer doesn't describe the argument correctly.