Logical Reasoning

PT135 · S2 · Q4 Panelist: Medical research articles

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Panelist: Medical research articles cited in popular newspapers or magazines are more likely than other medical research articles to be cited in subsequent medical research.

Evidence

Medical articles cited in popular newspapers or magazines are more likely than other medical research articles to be cited in subsequent medical research.

Conclusion

It appears that medical researchers’ judgments of the importance of prior research are strongly influenced by the publicity received by that research and do not strongly correspond to the research’s true importance.

Evaluate

The conclusion offers an explanation of why being cited in popular newspapers or magazines and being cited in subsequent medical research is positively associated. But it’s only one of many possible explanations of the correlation.

4.

The panelist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

  1. presents counterarguments to a view

    Unsupported

    The panelist does not provide any counterarguments.

    1% picked this

  2. Correct

    fails to consider the possibility

    Why this is right

    This presents an alternative explanation for why someone cited in popular newspapers and magazines would be more likely to be cited in subsequent medical research.

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

    85% picked this

  3. takes for granted that coverage

    Out of Scope: eminence of scientists

    This almost feels like the flipside of (B). We're assuming that the press ISN'T picking who to profile based on the importance of the research, so are we assuming that the press IS picking who to profile based on the fame of the scientists involved? No we never talk about them seeking out famous scientists. The idea is that by being profiled in the press, that research will become famous, but we have no indication that the press is accounting for current-levels-of-fame when they decide which research to cover. The author doesn't have to believe that the press is more concerned with scientists' fame than the content of the research. As long as the press is picking based on something other than "the most important research", the author's argument will still work. If the press picks which research to profile based on the attractiveness of the scientists involved, the author's argument would still work.

    8% picked this

  4. fails to consider the possibility

    Too Weak

    The panelist’s conclusion would not be undermined, even If popular newspapers reviewed only a minuscule percentage of medical research articles.

    3% picked this

  5. draws a conclusion that is

    Wrong Flaw

    The conclusion is causal, while the evidence is a correlation.

    2% picked this

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