Logical ReasoningDifficulty: Easy

PT144 S3 Q18 Explanation

Field studies, which have long

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

TopicsMain Conclusion

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Stimulus

Field studies, which have long been a staple of anthropological research, involve the researcher living within the community being studied. However, the usefulness of field studies tends to be overrated by anthropologists. Although most anthropologists do realize that living within the they generally underestimate the extent of such effects.

What this question is testing

Main Conclusion

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence 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
18.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in

Answer choices

  1. Correct82% picked this

    Anthropologists tend to overestimate the value of

    Why this is right

    This best paraphrases the argument’s main point.

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

  2. Evidence0% picked this

    In a field study, the researcher lives within the community

    This is a premise in the argument.

  3. Evidence0% picked this

    Field studies have been a central feature of anthropological research for

    This is a premise in the argument.

  4. Opposing Point1% picked this

    Most anthropologists know that when they live within a community being studied, the community is

    This is evidence against the argument’s main point, but which the author views to be too weak to disprove the conclusion.

  5. Evidence16% picked this

    Most anthropologists underestimate how much of an effect the researcher's presence has on a

    This is a premise in the argument.

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