{"id":2880,"date":"2013-12-24T03:00:44","date_gmt":"2013-12-24T10:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/?p=2880"},"modified":"2022-11-15T17:35:03","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T12:05:03","slug":"og13-96-parapsychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-gmat.com\/blogs\/og13-96-parapsychology\/","title":{"rendered":"OG13 #96 – Parapsychology"},"content":{"rendered":"A <\/span> 4<\/span> min read <\/span><\/span>\n

Although parapsychology is often considered a pseudoscience, it is in fact a genuine scientific enterprise, for it uses scientific methods such as controlled experiments and statistical tests of clearly stated hypotheses to examine the questions it raises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conclusion above is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(A) If a field of study can conclusively answer the questions it raises, then it is a genuine science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(B) Since parapsychology uses scientific methods, it will produce credible results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(C) Any enterprise that does not use controlled experiments and statistical tests is not genuine science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(D) Any field of study that employs scientific methods is a genuine scientific enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(E) Since parapsychology raises clearly statable questions, they can be tested in controlled experiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solution<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Passage Analysis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Although parapsychology is often considered a pseudoscience, it is in fact a genuine scientific enterprise, for it uses scientific methods such as controlled experiments and statistical tests of clearly stated hypotheses to examine the questions it raises.<\/td>Key-points from this statement:\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Parapsychology is normally considered a pseudoscience<\/li>\n
  2. Author of the argument doesn\u2019t agree with the above<\/li>\n
  3. Author considers parapsychology a true scientific enterprise (conclusion of the argument)<\/li>\n
  4. Author gives reason for treating parapsychology as a true scientific branch. Reason is: parapsychology uses scientific methods<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Pre-thinking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The question stem asks us to find the assumption on which the argument depends. Now an assumption should have three basic characteristics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (a)    It should present new information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (b)   It should be a must be true statement (if we negate the assumption, the conclusion falls apart).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (c)    It should support the argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Keeping these three guidelines in mind, let\u2019s look at our understanding of the reasons given and conclusion drawn in the passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Conclusion given: \u2026parapsychology (is) a true scientific enterprise<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reason for the conclusion: \u2026parapsychology uses scientific methods<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So essentially the author must assume a link between using scientific methods and qualifying a field as scientific or not. Therefore, we can safely state that the author assumes that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n