LSAT 106 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q9

LR Question 9 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Market research traditionally entails surveying consumers about why…

QUESTION TYPE: Strengthen

CONCLUSION: Market researchers think that observational research tells us things that surveys can’t.

REASONING: There’s no reasoning given, just a description of the two methods.

Surveys ask consumers what products they like and why. Observational studies watch consumers to see what they do before buying.

ANALYSIS: We need to find an advantage observational research has over traditional surveys.

Three of the wrong answers don’t even mention observational research. The only wrong answer that does mention it, D, just tells us why researchers like observational research.

The correct answer only slightly strengthens the argument, but it stands far above the rest.

___________

1. CORRECT. This shows that we can find out something extra using observational research. These consumers don’t provide useful survey information, but we can infer their thoughts by watching them.
2. So? It might also be true that consumers are almost always willing to be paid by the hour to take surveys, too.
3. This tells us why we need data. But it doesn’t say that observational studies works better than surveys.
4. This weakens the argument. Market researchers might be recommending observational research because it’s fun, not because it’s effective.
5. This describes two different methods of surveys. It doesn’t tell us anything about observational research (secretly watching consumers in stores).