Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation

Question

Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation recently found that a majority of conservative students are women, although when the researchers conducted in-person interviews shortly before the survey they found that men were more likely to identify as conservative. Afterwards, the researchers determined that, unlike women, men were less likely to identify as conservative on the survey than women and women were far more likely to finish and submit the survey. Therefore, using only in-person interviews instead would likely result in a more accurate depiction of student politics.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most support the argument in the above passage?

A. The number of student respondents will be significantly higher at the next data collection.
B. More women will identify as conservative at the next data collection.
C. For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey, researchers will be more accurately able to determine political orientation.
D. People who expressed no political orientation will respond more confidently to in-person interviews.
E. At the next data collection, researchers should conduct fewer in-person interviews over surveys.

EMPOWER  gmat    CR Question Pack 2

Question 34: Political Survey

48 Hour Answer & Explanation Window  
 Earn KUDOS!  Have your explanations evaluated to help boost your learning. Post your reasoning why the answer you chose is correct, and why the other 4 options are incorrect within 48 hours of this post.

Scroll Down For Official Explanation

◀ Question 33 
 ▶ Question 35 
 ⏏ CR Library Pack 2 Home

winterschool · Answer

Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation recently found that a majority of conservative students are women, although when the researchers conducted in-person interviews shortly before the survey they found that men were more likely to identify as conservative. Afterwards, the researchers determined that, unlike women, men were less likely to identify as conservative on the survey than women and women were far more likely to finish and submit the survey. Therefore, using only in-person interviews instead would likely result in a more accurate depiction of student politics.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most support the argument in the above passage?

A. The number of student respondents will be significantly higher at the next data collection.  Incorrect

it is extra information for next survey , not helpful

B. More women will identify as conservative at the next data collection.  Incorrect

dont know next data collection is in-person interview or survey based

C. For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey, researchers will be more accurately able to determine political orientation.  Correct

support conclusion

D. People who expressed no political orientation will respond more confidently to in-person interviews.  Incorrect

no political orientation irrelevant

E. At the next data collection, researchers should conduct fewer in-person interviews over surveys.  Incorrect

weakens conclusion

Pallavi2020 · Answer

Conclusion: using only in-person interviews instead would likely result in a more accurate depiction of student politics

We have to strengthen that.

Choice A - talks about number of students -> doesn't affect our conclusion -> eliminate

Choice B - more women will identify as conservative -> doesn't really suggest anything on in-person interviews -> eliminate

Choice C - For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey, researchers will be more accurately able to determine political orientation -> re-states the conclusion but wait does it really?

See the "For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey" -> choice is saying to interview people before survey whereas interviews are part of the survey

Also conclusion says in-person interviews are "only" way to find accurate results. We need something that will strengthen this claim-> this choice does help -> eliminate

Choice D - seems fine -> shows how the accuracy will be achieved.

Choice E - weakens -> eliminate

IMO D is the answer

Posted from my mobile device

Deyoz · Answer

I have chosen, but i am not sure if i can eliminate d

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation:

Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation recently found that a majority of conservative students are women, although when the researchers conducted in-person interviews shortly before the survey they found that men were more likely to identify as conservative. Afterwards, the researchers determined that, unlike women, men were less likely to identify as conservative on the survey than women and women were far more likely to finish and submit the survey. Therefore, using only in-person interviews instead would likely result in a more accurate depiction of student politics.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most support the argument in the above passage?

A. The number of student respondents will be significantly higher at the next data collection. 
 B. More women will identify as conservative at the next data collection. 
 C. For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey, researchers will be more accurately able to determine political orientation. 
 D. People who expressed no political orientation will respond more confidently to in-person interviews. 
 E. At the next data collection, researchers should conduct fewer in-person interviews over surveys.

Question Type:   Strengthen
  Boil It Down:   Campus researchers did surveys and in-person interviews about political orientation. The surveys showed women are more likely to identify as conservative, but in-person interviews showed men are more likely to identify as conservative. Women were also more likely to finish the survey. Researchers decided to stop doing the survey and just conduct in-person interviews for a more accurate result.
  Goal:    Find the option that best strengthens the argument that interviews will be more accurate than surveys.

Analysis:

This question is asking you to find the option that best strengthens the researchers’ argument that doing interviews will produce a more accurate result than surveys. We know the following from the passage:

1. Both men and women were interviewed prior to taking the survey. The result of the interviews was that men were more likely to identify as conservative.
2. When given the survey to complete and submit on their own, the women were more likely to actually complete and turn it in.
3. The results of the survey showed that a majority of conservative students are women. This contradicts what they found in the interviews. 
4. After gathering this information, the researchers decided to scrap the survey and go with more interviews.

We need to find the option that best supports their decision:

A. The number of student respondents will be significantly higher at the next data collection.
 A is incorrect because the overall sample has minimal bearing on the percentage breakdowns of participants.

B. More women will identify as conservative at the next data collection.
 B is incorrect because the passage would suggest that more men would identify as conservative at the next data collection.

C. For each person interviewed in-person before the next survey, researchers will be more accurately able to determine political orientation.
 C is correct because researchers indicated that in-person interviews were a more accurate way to assess political orientation than surveys.

D. People who expressed no political orientation will respond more confidently to in-person interviews.
 D is incorrect because people who expressed no political orientation are not the concern of the passage.

E. At the next data collection, researchers should conduct fewer in-person interviews over surveys.
 E is incorrect because the passage suggests that more, not fewer, interviews should be conducted.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

egmat · Answer

Hi Deyoz,

Great question! Let me show you exactly why D falls short compared to C.

The argument's core problem is: Surveys distort political data because men underreport their conservatism on surveys (but reveal it accurately in person). The conclusion is that in-person interviews would give a  MORE ACCURATE  picture of student politics.

Now let's compare C and D:

Choice C  says in-person interviews let researchers  MORE ACCURATELY  determine political orientation. This  directly strengthens the conclusion  — it confirms that the method being recommended (in-person interviews) actually delivers what we need: accuracy.

Choice D  says people who expressed  NO  political orientation will respond  MORE CONFIDENTLY  in person.  Two problems here:

1.   Wrong group  — The argument's distortion is caused by conservative men underreporting on surveys. Choice D talks about people with  NO  political orientation. These aren't the people causing the accuracy problem.

2.   Confident ≠ Accurate  — Someone can respond very confidently and still give inaccurate or unhelpful information. The argument needs accuracy, not confidence. D never connects confidence to a more accurate depiction of student politics.

So D might sound appealing because it mentions in-person interviews being better in some way, but it addresses the  wrong group  of people and the  wrong quality  (confidence instead of accuracy).

Key takeaway:  When evaluating Strengthen answers, check that the choice supports the EXACT conclusion — here, that means accuracy of political depiction, not just any improvement in the interview process.

Answer: C

Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Campus researchers conducting surveys on political orientation

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards