Logical Reasoning

PT134 · S1 · Q4 Physician: In an experiment

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

  • Save & drill this skill — build targeted practice sets from questions like this one

  • Video walkthroughs — watch every question solved step by step

  • 81 official LSATs — as questions, timed sections & full-length tests

Start practicing free

Physician: In an experiment, 50 patients with chronic back pain were divided into two groups.

Evidence

In an experiment, 50 patients with chronic back pain were divided into two groups.

Small magnets were applied to the backs of one group; the other group received no treatment.

Most of the patients in the first group, but very few in the second group, reported a significant reduction in pain.

Conclusion

Magnetic fields are probably effective at relieving some back pain.

Evaluate

The argument identifies a correlation between magnetic treatments and then goes on to assert a causal relationship. To weaken this the correct answer could provide an alternative cause or undermine the correlation.

4.

Which one of the following, if true, constitutes the logically strongest counter to the physician's argument?

  1. Correct

    A patient's merely knowing that

    Why this is right

    This provides an alternative cause for the back pain relief other than the magnetic field treatments.

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

    90% picked this

  2. Most physicians believe that medication

    Too Weak

    This makes magnets less effective than medication, but that does not mean that magnets are not effective.

    1% picked this

  3. No other experiments have been

    Out of Scope

    Pain in areas other than the back is not relevant to this argument.

    2% picked this

  4. Some of the scientists who

    Strengthen

    This makes it more likely that magnets are probably effective at relieving some back pain.

    1% picked this

  5. There was wide variation in

    Out of Scope

    What caused the chronic back pain is less important than what relieved the back pain in this experiment.

    6% picked this

Continue the review in LSAT Lab

Save this question, watch the video walkthrough, and drill similar questions in your LSAT Lab account.

Save and practice this skill
LSAT Lab

Turn this review into a targeted study plan.

Save this question, drill more like it, watch the video walkthrough, and track your progress in your LSAT Lab account.

Start practicing free