Critical Reasoning

An anthropologist studying the social function of human skin has stated that tattoos are an ancient form of body art. Tattoos, she argues, function as a mode of self-identification; the placement and design of images communicate ideas of central importance to those who bear them. She hypothesizes that the resurgence of tattooing in Western cultures over the last 10-15 years is due to increased desire to express individuality in an environment in which other personal decorations, including clothing and jewelry, are mass-produced.

Which of the following research studies, if completed, would be most likely to provide evidence directly relating to the anthropologist’s hypothesis?



* A study examining the attitudes in several Western cultures toward mass-produced clothing and jewelry.
* A study that systematically interviews people with tattoos less than 15 years old to discover their reasons for tattooing.
* A study surveying the work of other anthropologists on tattooing as a mode of self-identification.
* A study of the most common designs for tattoos over the last 10-15 years that could determine correlations between popular images and culture.
* A study comparing ancient and modern designs for tattoos that could reveal the way shifts in images reflect shifts in culture.

IMO A

IMO 'A'. 'A' , if done would provide the attitudes in several Western cultures toward mass-production of clothing and jewelry and thus would provide evidence whether mass-production of clothing and jewelry is the reason that people in Western cultures over the last 10-15 years used tattoos to express individuality.

rahulg83 wrote:An anthropologist studying the social function of human skin has stated that tattoos are an ancient form of body art. Tattoos, she argues, function as a mode of self-identification; the placement and design of images communicate ideas of central importance to those who bear them. She hypothesizes that the resurgence of tattooing in Western cultures over the last 10-15 years is due to increased desire to express individuality in an environment in which other personal decorations, including clothing and jewelry, are mass-produced.

Which of the following research studies, if completed, would be most likely to provide evidence directly relating to the anthropologist’s hypothesis?



* A study examining the attitudes in several Western cultures toward mass-produced clothing and jewelry.
* A study that systematically interviews people with tattoos less than 15 years old to discover their reasons for tattooing.
* A study surveying the work of other anthropologists on tattooing as a mode of self-identification.
* A study of the most common designs for tattoos over the last 10-15 years that could determine correlations between popular images and culture.
* A study comparing ancient and modern designs for tattoos that could reveal the way shifts in images reflect shifts in culture.

The hypothesis is "resurgence of tattooing in Western cultures over the last 10-15 years is due to increased desire to express individuality"

We need to analyze the causes of tattooing to help the hypothesis.

Hence B)

Agree with vinaynp. Earlier I have misunderstood the 'B'.

OA is B

I think A is the best in this case.