Gladiator59 wrote:
A recent study reveals that television advertising does not significantly affect children’s preferences for breakfast cereals. The study compared two groups of children. One group had not watched television, and the other group had watched average amounts of television and its advertising. Both groups strongly preferred the sugary cereals heavily advertised on television.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) The preferences of children who do not watch television advertising are influenced by the preferences of children who watch the advertising.
(B) The preference for sweets is not a universal trait in humans and can be influenced by environmental factors such as television advertising.
(C) Most of the children in the group that had watched television were already familiar with the advertisements for these cereals.
(D) Both groups rejected cereals low in sugar even when these cereals were heavily advertised on television.
(E) Cereal preferences of adults who watch television are known to be significantly different from the cereal preferences of adults who do not watch television.
A student asked me to comment on this question.
PREMISE: Two groups: TV watchers and non-TV watchers
PREMISE: Both prefer sugary cereals
CONCLUSION: TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferencesASIDE: The idea here is that, if TV ads have an effect, then the TV watchers should want sugary cereal, and the NON-TV watchers should not want sugary cereal.
As we read the answer choices, we should remind ourselves of the
conclusion(A) The preferences of children who do not watch television advertising are influenced by the preferences of children who watch the advertising.
Does this weaken the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences?
YES!
If the ads affect the TV watchers' cereal choices, and then those same TV watchers go on to influence the NON-TV watchers' cereal preferences, then we can see that the TV ads have (indirectly) influenced the NON-TV watchers.
As such, it seems that the ads HAVE, indeed, influenced both groups of children.
KEEP this answer choice
(B) The preference for sweets is not a universal trait in humans and can be influenced by environmental factors such as television advertising.
Does this weaken the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences?
NO.
It just says that TV ads CAN have an effect, but the object of the study is the determine whether the ads actually DO have an effect.
ELIMINATE
(C) Most of the children in the group that had watched television were already familiar with the advertisements for these cereals.
Does this weaken the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences?
NO.
The fact that the TV watchers have already seen the ads does not affect the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferencesELIMINATE
(D) Both groups rejected cereals low in sugar even when these cereals were heavily advertised on television.
Does this weaken the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences?
This actually strengthens the argument by suggesting that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences ALSO WHEN the cereals in question are low in sugar.
ELIMINATE
(E) Cereal preferences of adults who watch television are known to be significantly different from the cereal preferences of adults who do not watch television.
Does this weaken the conclusion that
TV ads have little effect on kids' cereal preferences?
NO.
The conclusion is specifically about KIDS' cereal preferences.
The fact that adults behave differently from kids (with regard to cereal preferences) does not affect the CHILD-centered conclusion.
Answer: A
Cheers,
Brent