Question:
Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported in the media, a phenomenon that may last for as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given to the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry, and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accidents, not by an increase in the number of accidents.
Which of the following choices explains the discrepancies stated above?
Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported in the media, a phenomenon that may last for as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given to the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry, and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accidents, not by an increase in the number of accidents.
Which of the following choices explains the discrepancies stated above?
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In causality-based reasoning problems, it is important to identify how one factor (like media coverage) may affect another (like the perceived number of accidents).
Updated On: Mar 7, 2025
- The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred.
- Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months.
- News organizations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe an accident is.
- Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources find it advantageous to do so.
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The increase in reported airplane accidents is explained by the fact that media sources focus on such accidents for their potential to attract viewers and readers, not because the number of accidents has increased.
Step 2: Thus, news organizations' increased coverage of these accidents leads to the perceived rise in incidents, which is caused by the increase in coverage, not the actual number of accidents.
Step 2: Thus, news organizations' increased coverage of these accidents leads to the perceived rise in incidents, which is caused by the increase in coverage, not the actual number of accidents.
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