Question

A study suggests that a new drug will help reduce symptoms of a certain illness. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the study's conclusion?

• A. The drug has been tested on a large group of patients.
• B. The drug is expensive to produce.
• C. Other drugs for the illness have shown no improvements.
• D. The drug can cause some side effects.

Hint:

To strengthen a conclusion based on a study, look for answers that improve the study's methodology. Common strengtheners include a large and representative sample, the use of a control group, and evidence that the study was double-blind.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a Critical Reasoning question that asks us to strengthen a conclusion. We need to find a new piece of information that makes the conclusion of the study more likely to be true.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The conclusion is that a new drug is effective. The strength of a scientific study's conclusion depends heavily on the quality of its methodology.
- (A) The drug has been tested on a large group of patients. A large sample size is a key component of a methodologically sound study. It makes the results less likely to be due to random chance and more likely to be generalizable to the wider population of people with the illness. This directly strengthens the validity of the study's conclusion.
- (B) The drug is expensive to produce. The cost of the drug is irrelevant to its effectiveness.
- (C) Other drugs for the illness have shown no improvements. The failure of other drugs does not provide evidence for the success of this new drug.
- (D) The drug can cause some side effects. The presence of side effects is a negative aspect of the drug and does not strengthen the conclusion that it is effective at reducing symptoms. It might even weaken the overall case for using the drug.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The fact that the study was conducted on a large group of patients strengthens the reliability and credibility of its findings. This corresponds to option (A).