Logical Reasoning

PT5 · S3 · Q2 Several studies have shown that

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Several studies have shown that hospitals are not all equally successful: patients are much more likely to die in some of them than in others.

Conclusion

The differences in mortality rates among hospitals are probably due to differences in the quality of care provided by hospital staff.

Evidence

Several studies have shown that patients are much more likely to die in some hospitals than in others.

The hospitals in the studies had approximately equal per-patient funding.

Evaluate

This argument fits the pattern of an Explain Curious Fact question. The author observes differences in mortality rates (the curious fact) and explains it by asserting that these differences are probably due to variations in the quality of care provided by hospital staff (the author's explanation).

Curious Fact

Why do mortality rates differ among hospitals?

Author's Explanation

Differences in the quality of care provided by hospital staff are responsible for the differences in mortality rates. To weaken the argument, we need to suggest an Alternate Explanation for the differences in mortality rates besides the quality of care, or we need to question the plausibility of the author's explanation.

Goal

Let's find an answer that provides an alternate explanation for the variations in mortality rates among hospitals or undermines the author’s claim that the quality of care is the main factor.

Which one of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion drawn above?

The staff in some of
No Impact
This answer doesn't directly address the core issue of why mortality rates differ. Even if staff have more advanced degrees, it doesn't necessarily mean they provide better or worse care. More advanced degrees could strengthen or undermine the argument, but without knowing how it impacts care, it's irrelevant.
6% picked this
Correct
Patient populations vary substantially in
Why this is right
If patient populations vary substantially in average severity of illness from hospital to hospital, then it provides a strong alternate explanation for the mortality rate differences. A hospital may have a higher mortality rate not because of inferior quality of care, but because it admits patients with more severe health issues.
Skill tested: Weaken · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.
85% picked this
The average number of years
No Impact
This factor doesn't clearly impact the author's conclusion. It might barely support that staff stability correlates with care quality, but there’s no clear connection provided here to mortality rates specifically.
2% picked this
Approximately the same surgical procedures
No Impact
Even if the same procedures were performed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that differences in mortality rates aren't due to staff quality. This fact doesn’t provide any new information that would weaken the quality of care explanation.
4% picked this
Mortality rates for hospital patients
No Impact
The lack of regional variation in mortality rates doesn't impact the argument about differences between hospitals. The comparison is irrelevant to the conclusion about quality of care across different hospitals. Answer (B) effectively provides an alternate explanation by suggesting patient severity as a reason for differing mortality rates, rather than just the quality of care.
4% picked this

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