LSAT 154 | Section 4 | Logical Reasoning: Q16

LR Question 16 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: Researchers investigating the accuracy of eyewitness accounts…

QUESTION TYPE: Most Strongly Supported

FACTS:

1. When test subjects were not told that the suspect might not be in the lineup, 78% misidentified.
2. When test subjects were told that the suspect might not be in the lineup, only 38% misidentified.

ANALYSIS: This discrepancy is tied to the fact of whether or not the test subjects were told the suspect might not be in the lineup. What we can infer is that if the test subjects believe that the criminal is in the lineup, they’re more likely to misidentify. So their expectations definitely play a role in their tendency to misidentify.

___________

1. The stimulus doesn’t differentiate between eyewitnesses versus people who get verbal descriptions.
2. We don’t know what people “tend” to do and there are no “stated expectations”. The researchers only told them it was possible that the criminal wasn’t in the lineup, but not their expectations.
3. The test subjects weren’t “specifically directed” to do anything.
4. The study isn’t about if people can discern physical similarities among people.
5. CORRECT. This answer supports the causal relationship between test subjects’ expectations, which then influences their propensity to misidentify. Warning people that the criminal isn’t in the lineup decreases their expectation to see it. Thus, they’re also less likely to think they see the criminal and misidentify.

Recap: The question begins with “Researchers investigating the accuracy of eyewitness accounts”. It is a Most Strongly Supported question. Learn more about LSAT MSS questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.