Recent studies indicate a correlation

A free, expert breakdown of this official LSAT Logical Reasoning question.

TopicsFlaw

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Stimulus

Recent studies indicate a correlation between damage to human chromosome number six and adult schizophrenia. We know, however, that there are people without damage to this chromosome who develop adult schizophrenia and that some people with damage to chromosome number six do not develop adult damage to human chromosome number six and adult schizophrenia.

What this question is testing

Flaw

Your task

Describe the reasoning error the argument actually commits.

Common trap

Answers that name a real logical flaw the argument doesn't actually make.

Winning move

Articulate the gap in the reasoning yourself, then match it to the choice that describes that gap.

Reading along? Open the full official question in LawHub — we show a fragment here and keep the reasoning in our own words.

The question

11.

Which one of the following most accurately describes a reasoning flaw in

Answer choices

Correct58% picked this
The argument ignores the possibility that some but not all types of damage to chromosome number
Why this is right
This objection explains why sometimes we see damage to chromosome number six but no adult schizophrenia, but still affirms that in some cases a certain type of damage to chromosome number six will lead to schizophrenia. Since this lets us argue that there is some causal connection, this is a powerful objection.
Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
58%
Too Strong6% picked this
The argument presumes, without providing evidence, that schizophrenia is caused solely
The author doesn't have to assume that all schizophrenia is caused by chromosomal damage. In fact, she doesn't have to assume any schizophrenia is caused by chromosomal damage, since she's arguing that there's no causal connection.
6%
Not "Sampling"5% picked this
The argument makes a generalization based on an unrepresentative
The conclusion is a generalization, but how would we say that the sample is unrepresentative? When LSAT wants us to call out the sketchiness of a sample (because it's too small or biased or unrepresentative) they give us some explicit clue.
5%
Not "Causal Flaw"3% picked this
The argument mistakes a cause for
Since the author's conclusion is saying "X does not have a causal connection to Y", we won't be able to accuse her of committing a causal flaw. (For the record, I don't think this answer choice "mistakes cause for effect" has ever been correct)
3%
Not "Causal Flaw"27% picked this
The argument presumes, without providing warrant, that correlation
Since the author's conclusion is saying "X does not have a causal connection to Y", we won't be able to accuse her of committing a causal flaw. This author thinks that "an imperfect correlation implies a lack of causation".
27%

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