Flawed Parallel ReasoningDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: You need math to do psychology, and you need classes to learn math, so taking more math classes will definitely make you a better psychologist.
Conclusion: Increasing the amount of statistical training a person receives will make them a better researcher in experimental psychology.
Reasoning: Psychology research requires statistics, and understanding those statistics requires specific training.
Analysis: This argument commits a 'threshold' error: it assumes that because a certain amount of something is necessary to function, having more of it will lead to a proportional increase in quality. Just because you need a baseline level of statistical knowledge to do research doesn't mean a PhD in statistics makes you a better psychologist than someone with a Master's. Look for an answer choice that identifies a necessary requirement for a task and then incorrectly concludes that maximizing that requirement will maximize success in the task. It's like saying that because you need water to live, drinking ten gallons a day will make you ten times as healthy.
Conclusion: Increasing the amount of statistical training a person receives will make them a better researcher in experimental psychology.
Reasoning: Psychology research requires statistics, and understanding those statistics requires specific training.
Analysis: This argument commits a 'threshold' error: it assumes that because a certain amount of something is necessary to function, having more of it will lead to a proportional increase in quality. Just because you need a baseline level of statistical knowledge to do research doesn't mean a PhD in statistics makes you a better psychologist than someone with a Master's. Look for an answer choice that identifies a necessary requirement for a task and then incorrectly concludes that maximizing that requirement will maximize success in the task. It's like saying that because you need water to live, drinking ten gallons a day will make you ten times as healthy.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage21.Which one of the following arguments exhibits a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by the argument above?
Correct Answer
A
A parallels the flawed move: it starts with a necessity claim about love and support (without it, people become unhappy) and then concludes that more love and support will make someone happier. That’s the same unjustified step from a necessary condition to a “more is better” degree claim.
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