Final answer:
The analysis conducted by unmotivated students of arguments presented by either a prominent professor or a high school student is likely to be biased due to motivated reasoning. Without sufficient motivation and the central route to persuasion, objectivity suffers as individuals lean towards confirming existing beliefs and may be unduly influenced by the presenter's characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
When students were not motivated to analyze arguments by a prominent professor or a high school student, the likelihood is that their analysis would be biased. This happens due to motivated reasoning, which is a type of cognitive bias. Individuals with motivated reasoning tend to make judgments based on what they wish to be true, rather than an unbiased evaluation of the evidence. In the context of analyzing arguments, motivation plays a key role. For the central route to persuasion to be effective, the audience needs to be analytical and motivated. Without this motivation, the analysis may not only be less comprehensive but also prone to influence, which can stem from personal biases or the perceived authority of the presenter.
One common source of bias is the tendency to accept evidence that aligns with one's pre-existing beliefs (confirmation bias) while discounting evidence that contradicts them. This is problematic in academic and scientific settings where objective analysis is critical. Focus in these fields is often on data that can be verified through observation, measurement, and testing, striving to be neutral and leaving personal opinions and biases aside. As such, when writing an analytical report, identifying bias and maintaining critical and analytical thought is essential.
It is also important to recognize potential issues like sloppy associative reasoning, where characteristics of the person presenting an argument can be mistakenly attributed to the argument itself. Additionally, it can be difficult to fully appreciate arguments if feelings toward the person presenting them cloud one's judgment. Thus, in the scenario described, the analysis could be biased due to the lack of motivation combined with these types of reasoning fallacies.