Double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific

Hi pra1785

Yes, this is a Q from LSAT, practice this only after you have good (>70%) accuracy in
difficult OG Qs and need additional practice on 'super' difficult Qs. You may read
this post for details.

Happy studying!
WR,
Arpit

need explanation. i'm really confuse

Good question. You will get it right if you go by the basics. It asks for the MAIN conclusion which is the main sentence of the statement i.e. "Double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific experiments." All other options except B doesn't point to the main conclusion. Hence option B is thecorrect choice.

As stated by hotshot02, the first sentence represents the conclusion of the passage: "Double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific experiments." But why?

• {Double-blind techniques} help prevent the misinterpretations that often arise due to expectations and opinions that scientists already hold.
• Scientists should be extremely diligent in trying to avoid such misinterpretations.
• Therefore, if scientists should try to avoid such misinterpretations and double-blind techniques help to prevent such misinterpretations, "double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific experiments."

In other words, the author starts with the conclusion and then presents the reasoning to support that conclusion.



The author simply claims that double-blind techniques help prevent the misinterpretations that often arise due to expectations and opinions that scientists already hold. The author does not, however, suggest that scientists should refrain from interpreting evidence on the basis of previously formed expectations and convictions whenever possible. Perhaps the author would agree that scientists should sometimes do so and simply advocates using double-blind techniques to avoid the misinterpretations that can result from this approach.


Based on the information in the passage, we have no idea whether scientists neglect to adequately consider the risk. Even if they fully consider and understand the risk, there still might be misinterpretations. This choice does not represent the conclusion of the author's argument and should be eliminated.

Hi GMATNinja!
I was able to rule out A, c and D but between B and E i select E..can you help me rule out option E?

Again, refer to the first sentence: "Double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific experiments."

Does the author simply want you to believe that double-blind techniques are OFTEN an effective way of ensuring scientific objectivity? This would imply that the author believes that such techniques are sometimes NOT effective. The author doesn't just say, "Yea, double-blind techniques are OFTEN a good choice." Instead, the author says, "Double-blind experimental techniques should be used WHENEVER possible!". That is a much stronger opinion than the one suggested in choice (D).

Choice (B) is more in line with the first sentence.

I hope that helps!

this question type is actually an inference question. The stem is what can be inferred from the passage.
Also, this is a LSAT question, and the question surely is much different from a normal gmat question even though the deduction method is same.
A is out b/c of "impeded" -> nothing is sure about how scientists' objectivity may be impeded
E is incorrect b/c of "effective way"
D is absurd b/c of "refrain"
C has many flaws. First, "we have no idea whether scientists neglect to adequately consider the risk. Even if they fully consider and understand the risk, there still might be misinterpretations. This choice does not represent the conclusion of the author's argument and should be eliminated." Secondly, "sometimes" does not sound good. Lastly, C changes the original meaning.

In conclusion, in general we have something confident or something concluded from the premises.

Here the main conclusion is - scientists has to use double-blinded experiments to prevent any mis-interpretations

So when you get conclusion questions, first step find the conclusion in one line and then remove options - which are likely or should be or it might happen.

Because conclusion here is a suggestion based on some premises so

A - "impeded" -> Check verb impeded. so just rule out
B - Says as per our pre-thinking here.
C - Sometimes - Not sure
D - Is one of the closest one, I was about to mark it firstly without applying this method, but refrain and doesn't have the main subject of the passage
E - "effective way" - always look out for something extreme words - won't make the answer mostly


So how do you approach conclusion question?

1. Gather the logic
2. Look for conclusion
3. Pre-think both
4. Eliminate all options which are suggesting something or not sure options
5. Choose which has both logic and conclusion in it

Mates, please

I chose E, but now I will try to say why every incorrect answer is so (I am not saying I am right, I am checking whether I am).
I want you to tell me, please, if I am right

A is out because, as of "may", we don't know the chance of occurrence and, moreover, the answer has nothing to do by what the objectivity may be impeded
C is out because it considers only the second sentence
D is out as is C
E is out because effective is not to the extreme extent an indicator of helping to prevent, and "often" is reversed (it is misinterpretations that often arise, not techniques are often an effective way (but can we imply here, that as misinterpretations often arise and the techniques help prevent them, the techniques are often helpful in ensuring scientific objectivity?)

I was torn between A and B. After reading the above answers, still I am unable to rule out A completely.

hi gmatninja !
option B says " as high a proportion" whereas there we cannot conclude from the passage that in which proportion scientist should use it only says should be used
please tell me where im getting wrong

The question asks us not to identify an answer choice that we can conclude on the basis of what is given in the passage but to identify an answer choice that accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument. So, remember argument’s conclusion: “double-blind techniques should be used WHENEVER possible in scientific experiments.”

Now, here’s (B):


The passage does not tell us in what proportion of experiments double-blind techniques should be used. Rather, it concludes that these techniques should be used WHENEVER possible. This means that if we have the opportunity to use double-blind techniques, we should use them. In other words, if we are able to use double-blind techniques in 90 out of 100 experiments, then we should use the techniques in all 90 of those experiments. Practically speaking, this translates to using double-blind techniques in as high a proportion of experiments as possible. This is exactly what (B) says, so (B) is correct.

I hope that helps!

First understand the question.
"Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?"

This means we have to find the answer choice that re-states the conclusion in different words.
In other words, the question is "Which of the following is the argument's conclusion?"

Next analyse the given argument.

The conclusion is a recommendation
"Double-blind techniques should be used whenever possible in scientific experiments."

These are the premises (justification) for the conclusion:
"They help prevent the misinterpretations that often arise due to expectations and opinions that scientists already hold, and clearly scientists should be extremely diligent in trying to avoid such misinterpretations"

Now look at the answer choices

Answer choice A gives us a reason why double-blind techniques should be used.
So A is a premise, not a paraphrase of the Conclusion.

Answer choice B is a paraphrase of the conclusion and just what we need.

Hope this helps

Posted from my mobile device

If I am not mistaken, conclusion questions in GMAT have choices that are not merely restatements of the conclusion in the passage, but choices that represents more of an inference correct?

e.g. What would you logically conclude from the passage?

LSATs seem to ask what was the conclusion that was already stated (and the choice is a slight tweak of the wording).