anindame wrote:
Despite all the science and massive budgets involved in modern sports, many sportsmen and women at all levels of sport swear by superstitions or elaborate event rituals to enhance their game. Irrational as it may sound, these superstitions clearly boost performance because almost all the top sportspersons across the world have some superstition or the other that they always adhere to.
Which of the following would most help evaluate the conclusion that superstition clearly helps sportspersons?
A) Whether sportspersons who are not as successful also have superstitions
B) Whether there is empirical proof that superstition boosts the performance of sportspersons
C) Whether sportsperson who don’t have any superstitions are also as successful as the ones who do
D) Whether superstition helps boost an individual’s self belief dramatically
E) Whether all successful sportspersons across the world have some superstition
Lets replace the word
superstition with
regular training at all places in this question and check if the OA still holds true
Despite all the science and massive budgets involved in modern sports, many sportsmen and women at all levels of sport swear by
regular training to enhance their game. Irrational as it may sound, these
regular training sessions clearly boost performance because almost all the top sportspersons across the world have some
regular training regimen that they always adhere to.
Which of the following would most help evaluate the conclusion that
regular training clearly helps sportspersons?
A) Whether sportspersons who are not as successful also train regularly
If the answer is Yes, it does not weaken/strengthen the argument. Most sportspersons train regularly but that doesn't guarantee an Olympic gold medal. So even though the not so successful sportsperson train as regularly, as the more successful athletes, they are not as successful because there are others factors involved. But that doesn't mean regular training does not boost performance.
If the answer is No, it still does not weaken/strengthen the argument. As there can be other factors besides regular training that makes a top sportsperson tick.
This option proves nothing really.
B) Whether there is empirical proof that regular training boosts the performance of sportspersons
Now if there is an empirical proof that regular training boosts the performance of sportspersons then we can definitively say that the argument is correct.
C) Whether sportsperson who don’t have any regular training are also as successful as the ones who do
Yes : Doesn't weaken/strengthen the argument. The sportsperson in question could be a born athlete and immensely talented than the ones who need regular training.
No: Same as A, there can be other factors involved. So doesn't weaken/strengthen.
D) Whether regular training helps boost an individual’s self belief dramatically
Out of scope
E) Whether all successful sportspersons across the world have regular training
Out of scope
Based on this I believe B is a better option than A. Please let me know if my reasoning is wrong.