Scientists
attempting to replicate certain controversial results reported by a group of experienced researchers failed to get the same results as those reported. The conclusion drawn from this by the scientists who conducted the replication experiments was that the originally reported results had been due to faulty measurements.
Scientist -> failed to get the same results as the Original Report Results
Original Report Results -> Faulty Measurements
There is no missing link here. So it should be a defender assumption type question.
What if the scientists' result was wrong because they had committed errors while conducting the experiment and the original report results were correct?
Even if the original results were wrong, could it be the case that the scientists' results at the same time were wrong?
The argument of the scientists who conducted the replication experiments assumes that
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(A) the original experiments had not been described in sufficient detail to make an exact replication possible
Not enough information for replicating the experiment is different to the faulty of the original experiment. (A) is out.
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(B) the fact that the originally reported results aroused controversy made it highly likely that they were in error
If this is true, it also could be true that the there were errors in conducting while the scientists conducting the experiments — and it was not because of the faulty measurement of the original results. (B) is out.
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(C) the theoretical principles called into question by the originally reported results were themselves based on weak evidence
Theoretical principles: This is out of scope. (C) is out.
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(D) the replication experiments were not so likely as the original experiments to be marred by faulty measurements
This matches our though. Hang on to this.
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(E) the researchers who originally reported the controversial results had themselves observed those results only once
This is similar to (B). This leaves the possibility that the scientists themselves have committed errors while replicating the experiments regardless of the results of the original experiment.
(D) is the correct answer.
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Consistency and Discipline beats Talent.