Graphologists claim that it is possible to detect permanent character traits by examining people's handwriting. For e...

kens July 7, 2020

method of reasoning q25

I can understand why A is correct, but I still have a minor question regarding answer C. Does "...when the people analyzed know that it is being used" mean that the people are aware of them being analyzed? What does "it is being used" mean here? Thanks in advance!

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shunhe July 16, 2020

Hi @kenken,

Thanks for the question! I think you have a grasp on what it means. (C) says that the argument argues that a particular technique of analysis can never be effective when the people analyzed know that it is being used. So when people know that technique is being used, it’s not effective; in other words, when they are aware that they are being analyzed with that technique. For example, let’s say a lie detector test doesn’t work because you know that you’re undergoing the lie detector test which makes you respond differently. That would be an example of (C). Or here, with the handwriting test, when people know that the handwriting test is going to be used, they change their handwriting on purpose to make the test less effective.

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.