Question

The questionable reasoning in the argument above is most closely paralleled by that in which one of the following?

a) An argument asserting that the findings of a sociological study are unreliable because the participants may have misrepresented their opinions.

b) An argument concluding that no artwork can be objectively evaluated because artistic preferences vary widely.

c) An argument claiming that the results of a political poll are invalid because respondents may have misunderstood the questions.

d) An argument stating that the outcomes of a business strategy cannot be predicted accurately due to unpredictable market fluctuations.

Answer 1

The questionable reasoning in the argument above is most closely paralleled by option a) An argument asserting that the findings of a sociological study are unreliable because the participants may have misrepresented their opinions. The correct option is a)

Step-by-step explanation:

The questionable reasoning in the argument above is most closely paralleled by option a) An argument asserting that the findings of a sociological study are unreliable because the participants may have misrepresented their opinions.

Both arguments exhibit a flawed reasoning pattern where they criticize the validity of the findings based on a potential bias in the data collection process. In the original argument, the councilwoman's argument is questioned because of her omission of information.

Similarly, in option a), the reliability of the sociological study's findings is doubted due to possible misrepresentation by participants. These arguments share a common logical fallacy that undermines the credibility of the conclusions.

The correct option is a) An argument asserting that the findings of a sociological study are unreliable because the participants may have misrepresented their opinions.