Request for an Evaluation of GRE Argument Essay

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Hello, I would be very grateful if somebody could offer some constructive feedback and a score estimate and to my first timed argument essay. I tried my best to complete the essay prompt within a strict 30 minute time window. Thank you!

 

In a study of the reading habits of Waymarsh citizens conducted by the University of Waymarsh, most respondents said that they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a second study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Waymarsh was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

 

 

 

 

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

 

 

     The reading studies conducted by Waymarsh University seem to outline inconsistencies between the reading preferences of the Waymarsh community; however, the researchers that administered the study failed to consider the reasons behind the inconsistent results.

 

 

     Several pieces of evidence are needed in order to deduce the reasoning behind the inconsistencies between the two studies. For one, the researchers need to break down the specific demographics of the subjects between the studies. Secondly, both studies must be scanned for possible differences between questions such that the results are not skewed by questions that are lacking in clarity and consistency.  If the demographics between both studies are not significantly different and if the survey questions are identical, then the researchers should confidently conclude that subjects from the first study have an inaccurate grasp over their reading preferences. 

 

     Also, the researchers do not explain whether or not a significant about of time passed between the studies. Have two weeks passed, two months, or two years? Such information is crucial when interpreting the results of a survey within a community. Between even a few months, community demographics and age distributions can be highly variable. If the first study was conducted in May, while University students are frantically studying for exams in public libraries, then many participating subjects may have been these University students. On the other hand, if two months have passed, these same students will be enjoying their summer vacations and will most likely be enjoying a healthy break outside of public libraries. As a result, many respondents of the second survey would mostly likely be older members of the community and University researchers and faculty.

 

     The second study may have contained questions that were phrased differently than the first study. For example, one question on the first survey may have asked, “How many books of each genre have you read in the past two months?”, whereas the same question on the second questionnaire may have asked, “How many books of each genre were checked out in the past four months?”. Inconsistent phrasing of similar questions may have led to the results that the Waymarsh researchers observed. If a subject in the first study read six books in the past three months (four literary classic books and two mystery novels) then it would seem as if that subject prefers literary classic books. On the other hand, if that same subject checked out nine books in the past four months (four literary classic books and five mystery novels) then seems as if that subject prefers mystery novels. Here we see how identical survey questions are crucial to replicated studies; however, this aspect was not explicitly outlined in the explanation of the researchers’ study.