Logical Reasoning

PT109 · S3 · Q4 Limited research indicates that therapeutic

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Limited research indicates that therapeutic intervention before the onset of mental disorders can mitigate factors identified as major contributors to them.

Conclusion (thus)

To explore cost-effective ways to help people prone to mental disorders, we should increase funding for intervention research.

Evidence

Limited research shows therapeutic intervention before the onset of mental disorders can mitigate major contributing factors.

A comprehensive research program is needed to verify and design specific health measures.

Evaluate

This argument fits the Plan / Goal pattern.

GOAL: save money helping people prone to mental disorders PLAN: increase funding for intervention research

We want to know the plan is feasible, that people will cooperate with it, that it won't backfire in some way that undermines the goal, or that it targets the main source of our current issue/problem.

To assess whether increasing funding achieves the goal, consider the differences between the recommendation-world and the current-world. What are the potential advantages and disadvantages?

The argument relies on the premise that therapeutic intervention can mitigate the contributing factors of mental disorders. Thus, if more funding leads to more effective interventions that are relatively inexpensive compared to treatment, then the recommendation would seem beneficial.

Goal

Let's find an answer that helps us argue that increasing funding for intervention research can lead to more cost-effective help for those prone to mental disorders.

4.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

  1. Most minor mental disorders are

    Irrelevant Comparison

    While mental disorders might be more expensive to treat than other minor health problems, this argument is only about mental disorders. We're just trying to assess whether increasing the budget for intervention research would lead to cost savings in dealing with mental disorders.

    5% picked this

  2. Prevention research can be coordinated

    No Impact

    This option discusses how the Plan might be carried out, but it doesn't give us any insight into whether the Plan would achieve its Goal of saving money. If anything, it makes it sound like this prevention research might be pretty expensive, since we'd be paying a lot of experts in different fields.

    4% picked this

  3. Correct

    Reducing known risk factors for

    Why this is right

    If reducing known risk factors for mental disorders is relatively inexpensive compared to the long-term treatment required, it strengthens the notion that intervention research could be a cost-effective approach. This suggests that increased funding could lead to significant savings and benefits through prevention rather than costly treatment later. In terms of Plan / Goal patterns, it's reassuring us that this Plan is targeting a key source of the problem. A big source of spending on mental disorders is long term treatment, so if we can avoid that then we're avoiding a lot of expenses.

    Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    86% picked this

  4. Current funding for intervention research

    No Impact

    This option talks about current funding levels but doesn't address whether increasing funding now would lead to more cost-effective interventions. If anything, it feels like pushback to someone suggesting we increase funding to say, "Psssh, really? It's already at the highest level we've ever had it!"

    3% picked this

  5. Once a mental disorder disappears,

    No Impact

    This option discusses the recurrence of mental disorders, but it does not relate to whether increased funding for intervention research could deliver a cost savings.

    1% picked this

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