Researchers performed an experiment in which airplane pilots

(A) The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed. - Weakens since the logo is not there, it is not reminding them of their training but it is their training that is helping them.

(B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight. - Irrelevant

(C) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing. - Irrelevant

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed. - Strengthens. Since the pilots had failed the UPA training so displaying the logo did not help in completing the landing.

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displayed- Weakens, since then the UPA logo is not reminding them of their training.

Answer D.

Conclusion: Logo=> successful landing

Correct Answer - D


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Answer is D

A) The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed. ----> weakens the argument

(B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight. -----> out of scope, this experiment doesn't matter.
(C) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing. ---> might be in real life but its not what we are discussing.

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed. -----> Strengthens the argument (logo reminds the pilot about their performance in the training)

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displayed ----> out of scope

Successful landing during training ----> successful landing during experiment with the logo ---> Gave them confidence that they had done this in the past

Unsuccessful landing during training ---> unsuccessful landing during experiment with the logo ---> reminded them that they had failed this in the past

D - Strengthens the argument

Let's get ready to RUMBLE-

Passage analysis-
1. R's performed an experiment - airplane pilots were to make a difficult landing in low visibility condition on a flight simulator (flight simulation - not an actual flight but a pseudo scenario often used for training and testing )
2. Result - A greater PERCENTAGE of pilots were successful in landing. when? When UPA logo was present. That implies a lower percentage of pilots were successful when no UPA LOGO present.
3. UPA - largest organization.
4. R's hypothesize - success is due to the LOGO which instills confidence in the pilots as in a similar condition while training at UPA they were successful. IN short - SUCCESS at UPA training+LOGO = greater probability of success at landing.

Inferences- 1. lower percentage of pilots were successful when no UPA LOGO present.
2. The pilots mentioned were UPA students.
3. Not a plane causal relationship but a sum of two variables lead to one.

Question stem analysis-
we are asked for a statement or a data point that would make us believe more in the interpretation of the result ie. the hypothesis / the causal relationship .

Thought process-
the conclusion is the hypothesis - The logo+ the success at UPA lead to greater success rate at landing.
Now in what scenrio will this relationship be false or may not be true?
1.If the same pilots were used for exp 1 ( NO LOGO ) and for exp 2 ( LOGO ). in this scenario the probabilty of causal realtionship lessens as another probable cause which is PRACTICE OR THE CONFIDENCE IN SECOND ATTEMPT. this will break the hypothesis.
2. What if the SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT itself instilled the pilots with a carefree or no tense environment. ( EVER WATCHED TOM HANK'S SULLY ? ) what if in the real flight the pilots fail or show no greater success rate regardless of the presence of the logo.?
3. The researchers explicitly mention in their hypothesis that not just the LOGO but the confidence it instills in the PILOTS WHO WERE SUCCESSFULL IN UPA TRAINING leads to the result. Now what if we attack one part of the cause ie. consider pilots who were not successful/failed and still were among the percentage who were successfull with LOGO. this will break one of the part and hence the entire cause because as I said the result is a sum of two variables. LOGO + SUCCESS at training.
Any of the above would cast doubt on the hypothesis and hence any answer choice that would negate these thoughts is the answer.

Answer choice analysis-
A. The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed. - WEAKENS. In line with thought 1. ( in a way )

B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight-NO IMPACT- we do not know what were the results. COULD EVEN WEAKEN THE HYPO.

C ) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing- NO IMPACT- We have to strengthen the hypothesis ie the causal relationship .

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed.- Negates thought 3. The answer.

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displayed -IN A WAY WEAKENS. The answer choice eliminates the existence of one part of the cause and states that one part leads to the result. Hence not a strengthener.

hope I'm right.

Question Stem: Strongly supports implies a Strengthen CR question

Argument Analysis:
Premise 1: Experiment conducted on Pilots to test their landing skills to perform difficult landing in low visibility condition.

Premise 2: Greater percentage of successful landings done when UPA logo was displayed on simulator

Conclusion: The logo displayed, gave confidence to the pilots by reminding of similar successful landings performed during their training program.

Analysis: A cause & effect relationship is used to demonstrate that the logo displayed has a vital role to play in the case of successful landings done on the simulator by pilots, who had done similar such landings during their training.
Hence, the logo has a psychological effect on the ability of the pilots to perform landings. A correct answer should provide evidence of this effect.

(A) The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed. - Incorrect. This statement makes the logo seem like a trivial aspect & undermines the emphasis of the logo in successful landings. Weakens the conclusion

(B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight. - Incorrect. This is a trap answer, as it might seem analogous to the argument, however it does not mention the outcome/effect of the experiment, whether it had any effect on the ability of the pilots to handle engine failures.

(C) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing. - Incorrect. This statement weakens the conclusion by suggesting an alternate approach for successful landings.

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed. - Correct. This statement clearly demonstrates a psychological connection, for the likelihood of not completing the landing, to the logo displayed, by providing the evidence that these pilots had failed the landings during training.

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displayed.
- Incorrect. Weakens the conclusion, by providing evidence that the logo has effect not only on pilots trained by UPA but also on those not trained by UPA. Suggesting a disconnect in the confidence boosting effect of the logo, on pilots trained by UPA.

Answer: D

Hope it is the correct answer & helps in understanding why it is correct.

Thanks,
Gym

A/B/C/E can be eliminated easily. D is perfect.

Researchers performed an experiment in which airplane pilots were required to execute a difficult landing in low-visibility conditions on a flight simulator. Results showed that a greater percentage of pilots successfully executed the landing when the logo of the UPA, the largest organization offering flight training to pilots, was displayed in the corner of the simulator. The researchers hypothesized that seeing the logo gave the pilots confidence in their abilities by reminding them they had successfully executed similar landings in order to pass the UPA training program.

Type - Strengthen
Boil it down - The researchers hypothesized that seeing the logo gave the pilots confidence in their abilities by reminding them they had successfully executed similar landings in order to pass the UPA training program.
Pre-thinking - people who are reminded of past failures on seeing the logo are likely to do worse

(A) The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed.-- Irrelevant

(B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight.-- Irrelevant - okay but we do not know the results

(C) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing.-- Irrelevant

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed.- Correct

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displayed- Irrelevant

This question reminds of official question on Credit card logo

Answer D

Solution:
(1) Identify the Question
The word support in the question indicates that this is a Strengthen the Argument question.

(2) Deconstruct the Argument
Researchers conducted a study that showed pilots were more successful at completing landings if the logo of a training organization was displayed on the screen. The researchers explain these results by suggesting that the logo provides confidence to the pilots by reminding them of prior similar experiences during training.

Here is one possible way to map the argument.

Study: Better landing w/ logo
Logo gives confidence from training

(3) State the Goal
The goal on a Strengthen question is to support the conclusion. In this case, you are specifically trying to support the researchers' explanation for why the displaying the logo improved landing success (not just the results of the study in general): the logo gave the pilots confidence because it reminded them of successful landings from training.

(4) Work From Wrong to Right

(A) This answer supports the idea that training or experience is important to landing successfully. It does not, however, directly support the researchers interpretation of why the logo is important because the greater success rates occurred regardless of whether the logo was displayed.

(B) Just knowing that researchers conducted a similar experiment does not support the interpretation of this experiment. If the other experiment had similar findings, that could support the conclusion.

(C) This information provides a reason why low visibility landings might be difficult. It does not, however, explain the results relating to the logo or the researchers' interpretation.

(D) CORRECT. This answer supports the researchers' interpretation of the results that the logo makes pilots think about their UPA training. For pilots who failed the training initially, seeing the logo and thinking about training shakes their confidence by reminding them of their failed training. This reminder results in worse outcomes, the opposite result compared to pilots who were successful during training.

(E) This answer weakens the argument. These results call into question the logic proposed by the researchers. If the researchers are correct, the logo should not affect pilots who did not take UPA training because there is no reason the UPA logo should boost their confidence.

Researchers performed an experiment in which airplane pilots were required to execute a difficult landing in low-visibility conditions on a flight simulator. Results showed that a greater percentage of pilots successfully executed the landing when the logo of the UPA, the largest organization offering flight training to pilots, was displayed in the corner of the simulator. The researchers hypothesized that seeing the logo gave the pilots confidence in their abilities by reminding them they had successfully executed similar landings in order to pass the UPA training program.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' interpretation of the experiment?

(A) The likelihood that a pilot landed successfully during the simulation increased with the number of hours of training received regardless of whether the logo was displayed. (this weakens)

(B) The researchers conducted a similar experiment in which a logo was displayed to some pilots when simulating an engine failure during flight. (out of scope)

(C) In conditions with low visibility, pilots must rely more on their instruments to execute a successful landing. (trap question)

(D) Pilots who initially failed the UPA training on difficult landings were also less likely to complete the landing in the experiment when the UPA logo was displayed. (Strengthens as it explains pilots)Correct!

(E) Pilots who had not received training from the UPA were more likely to execute the landing successfully when the UPA logo was displaye (this weakens)[/quote]

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