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- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#23031
Complete Question Explanation
Assumption. The correct answer choice is (A)
The stimulus discusses the point of view that delays due to prepublication peer review for medical journals sometimes result in denying access to information that could have saved lives. The stimulus then argues that such peer review is the only way to prevent harmful and erroneous information from reaching the lay public, and concludes that waiting for peer review is the price that must be paid to protect the public.
The argument is unconvincing, because it inexplicably assumes that the public would generally read medical journals often enough to incur risk. Since you are asked what the argument assumes, you would generally look for a choice that makes it likely that the public actually reads professional medical journals. However, this is one of those times that the LSAT writers pull a fast one. The argument makes other perhaps less obvious assumptions, and you will need an open mind to get this question correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The argument proceeds as if prepublication peer review is the only chance the findings have had at peer review. In fact, it is likely that some amount of peer review occurs before researchers bother to submit what they consider a fairly finished product for publication. If that is true, then the argument is wrong to suggest that the peer review involved immediately in the publication process is essential. That means the argument must assume that peer review does not occur except for during the publication process.
Answer choice (B): The argument does not need to assume that only those on review panels are capable of evaluating findings. Even if many people were capable of evaluating findings, it could still be true that lay public people read the findings often enough for harm to ensue, so this choice represents an unnecessary assumption.
Answer choice (C): The argument assumes that the general public does have access, not that the public lacks access, so this choice is contrary to the argument and incorrect. The LSAT writers delivered this response for those who identify the more obvious assumption, read the choices too quickly, and select this response on content without reading it carefully.
Answer choice (D): The argument does not need to assume that all findings are submitted for peer review in order to conclude that those findings should be submitted for peer review. This choice confuses what is always done with what should be done, so this choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): If peer review is subject to political and professional pressures, then it is likely that peer review has some negative qualities. While that would not defeat the argument, that certainly does not assist the argument, so this choice does not deliver a necessary assumption.
Assumption. The correct answer choice is (A)
The stimulus discusses the point of view that delays due to prepublication peer review for medical journals sometimes result in denying access to information that could have saved lives. The stimulus then argues that such peer review is the only way to prevent harmful and erroneous information from reaching the lay public, and concludes that waiting for peer review is the price that must be paid to protect the public.
The argument is unconvincing, because it inexplicably assumes that the public would generally read medical journals often enough to incur risk. Since you are asked what the argument assumes, you would generally look for a choice that makes it likely that the public actually reads professional medical journals. However, this is one of those times that the LSAT writers pull a fast one. The argument makes other perhaps less obvious assumptions, and you will need an open mind to get this question correct.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. The argument proceeds as if prepublication peer review is the only chance the findings have had at peer review. In fact, it is likely that some amount of peer review occurs before researchers bother to submit what they consider a fairly finished product for publication. If that is true, then the argument is wrong to suggest that the peer review involved immediately in the publication process is essential. That means the argument must assume that peer review does not occur except for during the publication process.
Answer choice (B): The argument does not need to assume that only those on review panels are capable of evaluating findings. Even if many people were capable of evaluating findings, it could still be true that lay public people read the findings often enough for harm to ensue, so this choice represents an unnecessary assumption.
Answer choice (C): The argument assumes that the general public does have access, not that the public lacks access, so this choice is contrary to the argument and incorrect. The LSAT writers delivered this response for those who identify the more obvious assumption, read the choices too quickly, and select this response on content without reading it carefully.
Answer choice (D): The argument does not need to assume that all findings are submitted for peer review in order to conclude that those findings should be submitted for peer review. This choice confuses what is always done with what should be done, so this choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): If peer review is subject to political and professional pressures, then it is likely that peer review has some negative qualities. While that would not defeat the argument, that certainly does not assist the argument, so this choice does not deliver a necessary assumption.
Medical journal