Logical Reasoning

PT125 · S4 · Q21 In an experiment, volunteers

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In an experiment, volunteers witnessed a simulated crime.

Apparent Paradox

In an experiment, volunteers witnessed a simulated crime.

After they witness the simulation the volunteers were first questioned by a lawyer whose goal was to get them to testify inaccurately about the event.

They were then cross-examined by another lawyer whose goal was to cause them to correct the inaccuracies in their testimony.

The witnesses who gave testimony containing fewer inaccurate details than most of the other witnesses during the first lawyer’s questioning also gave testimony containing a greater number of inaccurate details than most of the other witnesses during cross-examination.

Evaluate

If those who were more easily influenced by the first lawyer were also more easily influenced by the second lawyer, whose goal it was to get the witness to correct the inaccuracies in their statement, then their testimony would be corrected to a greater degree compared to witnesses who are not easily influenced in their testimony by the nature of the questioning.

21.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent conflict in the results concerning the witnesses who gave testimony containing fewer inaccurate details during the first lawyer's questioning?

  1. These witnesses were more observant

    Deepens the Paradox

    If these witnesses were more observant than were most of the other witnesses, why did their testimony contain a greater number of inaccuracies?

    2% picked this

  2. These witnesses had better memories

    Deepens the Paradox

    If these witnesses had better memories than did most of the other witnesses, why did their testimony contain a greater number of inaccuracies?

    1% picked this

  3. Correct

    These witnesses were less inclined

    Why this is right

    This makes those who gave testimony containing fewer inaccurate details less inclined to correct those inaccuracies and so could explain how those who strayed the furthest from the truth under the first lawyer’s questioning ended up further from the truth under the second lawyer’s questioning.

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

    66% picked this

  4. These witnesses were unclear about

    Deepens the Paradox

    How could witnesses who were unclear about the details at first provide testimony with fewer inaccurate details.

    8% picked this

  5. These witnesses tended to give

    Half Scope

    This might explain why these witnesses gave testimony containing a greater number of inaccurate details than most of the other witnesses during the second lawyer’s questioning, but does not explain why they gave fewer inaccurate details during the first lawyer’s questioning.

    23% picked this

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