anish123ster wrote:
A researcher studying the habits of business school students found that, on average, students on academic probation due to low grade point averages tend to cheat more often than do other students. The researcher concluded that students who cheat are likely to receive poor grades, even if they are not caught cheating.
A researcher has studied habits of business students. These students were on academic probation because their grade averages were low. The researcher found that these students cheat more often than other students.
Conclusion: "
students who cheat are likely to receive poor grades, even if they are not caught cheating"
Student got on academic probation because of low grades. They got low grades (X) because they cheat (Y).
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Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the researcher's conclusion?
This argument is based on the reason X leading to the effect Y. The opposite way from Y to X would weaken the conclusion.
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A) Students who are placed on academic probation due to low grade point averages often resort to cheating as a way to improve their grades.
This is from Y to X, correct. The students did not cheat before they got on probation. They cheat on probation in order to help themselves to get past it. Key: "Students
on probation resort to cheating"
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B) Some students with high grade point averages frequently cheat in order to obtain good grades.
Students with high grade point are irrelevant.
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C) Not all students who cheat get caught.
Getting caught or not is breaking up the category.
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D) Some students on academic probation do not cheat.
Very nice, is their number big enough to matter?
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E) Students who cheat in school are also likely to engage in other dishonest behavior.
Out of scope.