Social science researchers recognize the futility of measuring honesty

Question

Social science researchers recognize the futility of measuring honesty by administering surveys. A questionnaire that asks respondents to report how often they are truthful is bound to underestimate the frequency of dishonesty because__________________.

Which of the following best completes the passage above?
A. some dishonest individuals responding to the questionnaire might be dishonest about the frequency of their dishonesty
B. some honest individuals may feel guilty about incidents in which they have been dishonest
C. some people who are very infrequently dishonest may report on the questionnaire that they are frequently dishonest
D. some dishonest people who respond to the questionnaire will honestly report how frequently they are dishonest
E. some people who do not take the survey are likely to be more dishonest than those who do

Source: McGraw-Hill's GMAT

abhimahna · Answer

Good Question.

Argument is saying they are measuring the frequency of honesty through surveys.

Conclusion is saying it would not be a correct way to find the freq of dishonestly.

Pre Thinking: How do we know dishonest people will tell the honest answer?

A. some dishonest individuals responding to the questionnaire might be dishonest about the frequency of their dishonesty  : As per Pre Thinking. 
B. some honest individuals may feel guilty about incidents in which they have been dishonest  : Whatever they feel is Irrelevant. 
C. some people who are very infrequently dishonest may report on the questionnaire that they are frequently dishonest  : No, It wont be underestmate. It may be Overestimate. 
D. some dishonest people who respond to the questionnaire will honestly report how frequently they are dishonest  : Then There shouldn't be any problem, right? Incorrect. 
E. some people who do not take the survey are likely to be more dishonest than those who do  : We are talking about people who take surveys. So, Incorrect

ENEM · Answer

I felt both A and C can complete the sentence. What's wrong with C?

abhimahna · Answer

The argument is about  underestimating  the frequency of dishonestly.

But if people who are less dishonest report that they are more dishonest, won't it mean we are saying dishonesty is more than it should actually be. I mean in that case we are  Overestimating  the frequency of dishonestly. Hence, C is straight opposite.

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

Social science researchers recognize the futility of measuring honesty by administering surveys. A questionnaire that asks respondents to report how often they are truthful is bound to underestimate the frequency of dishonesty because__________________.

Which of the following best completes the passage above?
A. some dishonest individuals responding to the questionnaire might be dishonest about the frequency of their dishonesty
B. some honest individuals may feel guilty about incidents in which they have been dishonest
C. some people who are very infrequently dishonest may report on the questionnaire that they are frequently dishonest
D. some dishonest people who respond to the questionnaire will honestly report how frequently they are dishonest
E. some people who do not take the survey are likely to be more dishonest than those who do

Source: McGraw-Hill's GMAT

Option A is an obvious answer becuase a dishonest person will fill the survey dishonestly and will fill it as if he is honest about his honest or dishonest behaviour.

spetznaz · Answer

+1 for option A. We need to find a answer that tells us why the surveys might not be reliable. ask yourself - what if dishonest people don't report the frequency of their dishonesty correctly ? A nails it ...

Nightmare007 · Answer

I choose A. My prethinking: Some dishonest people might report themselves honest as they are dishonest, distorting survey reports.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

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Social science researchers recognize the futility of measuring honesty

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