LSAT 108 | Section 2 | Logical Reasoning: Q16

LR Question 16 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Researcher: Results indicate that the higher …

QUESTION TYPE: Parallel Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The correlation between education and math skills doesn’t prove that education improves math skills.

REASONING: Research shows higher education level = better math skills. But maybe students with better math skills to begin with are the ones who reach higher educational levels.

ANALYSIS: The researcher is essentially saying that correlation doesn’t establish causation because the direction of causation may be reversed.

Instead of: More education → Better math skills

It could be: Better math skills → More education

So the pattern to look out for in the answer choices is:

1. X and Y are correlated.
2. Someone claims X causes Y.
3. But maybe Y causes X.

___________

1. This introduces an entirely different alternative explanation (the review process is defective). That’s a third factor, not reverse causation.
2. CORRECT. There’s a correlation between professional athletes and good performance, so someone claims becoming a pro improves performance. But maybe athletes who are already better are the ones who become pros.
3. The alternative explanation is a third-variable, not reverse causation. Nobody is saying getting good jobs causes attendance at prestigious schools.
4. This is a sampling flaw. It attacks the surveys by saying many politicians without law degrees were omitted.
5. There’s no causal claim here at all. It’s attacking an overgeneralization by providing counterexamples.