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medical school

by vipulgoyal » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:19 pm
Graduates of medical schools are interested in practical work as practicing physicians. However, research laboratories mainly deal with theoretical work, and therefore, they are reluctant to hire personnel who are not interested in research. Consequently, research laboratories rarely hire graduates of medical schools.

The conclusion drawn above depends on which of the following assumptions?
(A)Graduates of medical schools are interested in working for research laboratories.

(B)The only people not interested in research work are those who are interested in practical work.

(C)Most employees of research laboratories are not graduates of medical schools.

(D)Research laboratories would hire graduates of medical schools if such graduates were interested in research work.

(E)Few medical school graduates who are interested in practical work are also interested in research.


OA E
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |
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by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:50 pm
Conclusion:
- labs rarely hire med school grads

Premises:
- med school grads interested in practical work
-labs reluctant to hire those not interested in research

Assumption: I'm told that med grads are interested in practical work. I'm told that labs don't want those uninterested in research, and therefore rarely hire med grads. So we're assuming that an interest in practical work precludes an interest in research. (If med grads were interested in both, presumably, labs would still hire them.)

Let's go to the answers:

A) We don't know if med students are interested in working for labs or not, but the argument is assuming that they're not interested in research, so this makes no sense.
B) The word 'only' is often a red flag. Why should those interested in practical pursuits be the only group not interested in research? No good.
C) This one is tempting. But this seems more like a likely consequence of the conclusion as opposed to an assumption that leads to the conclusion.
D) Also tempting, but presumably, labs have multiple criteria. One of those criteria is interest in research. But just because med students had an interest in research, there's guarantee that they'd have the other perquisites this lab seeks.
E) This must be true. We know med grads are interested in practical pursuits. We know labs aren't hiring them, and that they don't want anyone not interested in research. Well, then it must be the case that we're assuming that because med grads are interested in practical pursuits, they're not interested in research. [also, this answer choice, if negated, would stipulate that many med grads interested in practical work are interested in research. This negation would render the conclusion incoherent, which is another way we know this one is correct.]

Correct Answer: E
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by VivianKerr » Thu Feb 05, 2015 9:09 pm
David did a nice job, I'll just throw in a few cents in terms of Assumption CR strategy.

Remember our equation:

Evidence + Assumption = Conclusion

For example, consider this argument:

American Idol holds a televised talent contest for all eligible singers. Monica has a beautiful soprano voice, so she will likely make it onto the show.

The conclusion is that Monica will make it onto the show based on the evidence that American Idol showcases eligible singers. It must be true, therefore, that Monica is eligible, otherwise she wouldn't be "likely" to make it on the show.

Here's the steps I'd recommend to tackle this Q-type:

Assumption Strategy

Step 1 - Identify the Type of Assumption (Necessary or Sufficient?)
Step 2 - Break Down the Argument (find the conclusion and evidence)
Step 3 - Write Down a Prediction
Step 4 - Eliminate Non-Assumptions
Step 5 - Select the Choice Most Required by the Conclusion

Hope this helps! :)
Vivian Kerr
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