polygraph test_GPREP

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gmat_perfect: Legendary Member; Posts: 1083; Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:38 pmFollowed by: 14 members; Thanked: 127 times

by gmat_perfect » Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:12 pm

When a polygraph test is judged inconclusive,there is no reflection on the examinee.Rather,such a judgement means that the test has failed to show whether the examinee was truthful or untruthful.Nevertheless,employers will sometimes refuse to hire a job applicant because of an inconclusive polygraph test result.

Which of the following conclusions can most properly be drawn from the information above?
1. Most examinees with inconclusive polygraph test results are infact untruthful.
2. Polygraph tests should not be used by employers in the consideration of job applicants.
3. An inconclusive polygraph test result is sometimes unfairly held against the examinee.
4. A polygraph test indicating that an examinee is untruthful can sometimes be mistaken.
5. Some employers have refused to consider the results of polygraph tests when evaluating job applicants.

OA:C

please explain every option.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:12 pm

fibbonnaci: MBA Student; Posts: 403; Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:32 pmFollowed by: 22 members; Thanked: 98 times

by fibbonnaci » Sat Mar 13, 2010 11:37 pm

conclusion questions- > use scope based approach.
1. Most examinees with inconclusive polygraph test results are infact untruthful. [this is not implied in the stimulus. It infact says inconclusive P test bears no reflection on examinee. Eliminated!]

2. Polygraph tests should not be used by employers in the consideration of job applicants. [this is a strong word. The stimulus no where uses this strong indication. Also note- the stimulus says employers will sometimes. so can something that applies to sometimes be generalized for always? Eliminated!]

3. An inconclusive polygraph test result is sometimes unfairly held against the examinee. [This correctly takes the probability indicator- sometimes in account. It also mentions that it is unfairly held against examinee. Correctly within the scope of the argument. My answer]

4. A polygraph test indicating that an examinee is untruthful can sometimes be mistaken. [our stimulus talks about case when P test is inconclusive. We do not deal with what happens when P test finds an examinee untruthful. New topic error. Eliminated!]

5. Some employers have refused to consider the results of polygraph tests when evaluating job applicants.[ New topic error again. our stimulus does not deal with cases when examiners do not consider P test at all. we are bothered abt examiners who consider P test and sometimes unfairly hold the inconclusive test results against the examinee. Eliminated!]

Note: in such question, we need to look at only the stimulus. There is no scope for any other extra info other than what is given in the stimulus to appear in the answer choices.

Hope this helps!

mohit11: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 293; Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:08 amFollowed by: 5 members; Location: India; Thanked: 36 times; GMAT Score:730

by mohit11 » Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:01 am

gmat_perfect wrote:When a polygraph test is judged inconclusive,there is no reflection on the examinee.Rather,such a judgement means that the test has failed to show whether the examinee was truthful or untruthful.Nevertheless,employers will sometimes refuse to hire a job applicant because of an inconclusive polygraph test result.

Stimulus is easy to comprehend.

Which of the following conclusions can most properly be drawn from the information above?
1. Most examinees with inconclusive polygraph test results are infact untruthful. - Extreme answer choice. Eliminate
2. Polygraph tests should not be used by employers in the consideration of job applicants. - Stimulus never says that, out of scope
3. An inconclusive polygraph test result is sometimes unfairly held against the examinee. Sometimes = at least 1, which is exactly what the stimulus is trying to communicate. Our winner
4. A polygraph test indicating that an examinee is untruthful can sometimes be mistaken. Trap Answer Choice, out of scope. Eliminate
5. Some employers have refused to consider the results of polygraph tests when evaluating job applicants. Out of Scope. Eliminated

OA:C

please explain every option.

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