jaituteja wrote:
rohitgoel15 wrote:
A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than 70% of its readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years. Based on the results of the survey, the editor of the magazine concluded that over the next two years, the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes. Which of the following statements, if true, would be the most damaging to the conclusion of the magazine’s editor?
A) The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories.
b) The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire.
c) Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public.
d) The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.
e) All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation
for filling out the survey.
Can anyone justify the OA?
Can someone share the reasons to eliminate other options...
Hi jaituteja.
I'm glad to elaborate.
This is a so-called representative problem. The author just base on
small sample to generalize the trend. To weaken the conclusion, you just need to
show the sample is not comprehensive.
ANALYZE THE STIMULUS:Fact: A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than
70% of its readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years
Conclusion: over the next two years,
the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes.
Clearly, the conclusion has flaw, the magazine just used data of its readers to generalize a trend. It's vague.
ANALYZE EACH ANSWER:A) The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories.
Wrong. It seems tempting, but it’s wrong because
50,000 respondents of the New Homes magazine CANNOT represent for all people.
B) The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire.
Wrong. Clearly, It’s out of scope.
C) Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public.
Correct. This shows the flaw because the New homes magazine’s readers are those who want to buy home than do other people ==> Clearly the conclusion of the magazine is vague.
D) The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.
Wrong. Out of scope. Nothing about the increase of subcribers.
E) All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation
Wrong. Out of scope. “free issue” does not help to explain anything.
Hope it helps.