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My first AWA Argument Task. Comments will be appreciated. Thank you :-)


anshu

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The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal.

 

 

"A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situations (such as an encounter with an unfamiliar monkey), firstborn infant monkeys produce up to twice as much of the hormone cortisol, which primes the body for increased activity levels, as do their younger siblings. Firstborn humans also produce relatively high levels of cortisol in stimulating situations (such as the return of a parent after an absence). The study also found that during pregnancy, first-time mother monkeys had higher levels of cortisol than did those who had had several offspring."

 

 

Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.

 

 

 

Several gratuitous assumptions formulate the given argument. Primarily, the argument generalizes studies of eighteen rhesus monkeys , as standard trait of the entire species. Thereby rendering the conclusion fallacious.

The study specifically involves only eighteen rhesus monkeys. Traits that hold valid for rhesus monkeys may not necessarily hold true for the entire specie. Besides, no information pertaining to the environment in which the studies have been conducted is provided . How a Rhesus monkey responds in its natural habitat , can be very different to controlled experimental environment. Had the letter provided specific details of the experimental environment and its impact in the behavioral aspect of Rhesus monkey , we could justify the conclusion. Even then , it cannot be concluded that what holds true for eighteen Rhesus may hold true for all the other Rhesus monkeys and in fact the entire monkey specie.

The letter also states that higher level of cortisol results in increased body activity. No substantial proof has been provided to
correlate
the effect of Cortisol and individual's levels of simulation. The simulation may be due to other reasons like the age between the first born and their younger sibling .Effects of other factors have not been dealt with in the study.

Higher level of cortisol in first time mother is observed compared to those who have several offsprings. Argument assumes that , this higher cortisol level results in higher cortisol level in offspring. This is an unwarranted assumption. No proofs have been provided in the letter for this consequent effect of cortisol in pregnant mothers.

However, the letter also states similar behavioral trait among humans. This could make the argument a bit more veritable. But again, the letter does not provide any insight into the study group . The number of people , their socioeconomic background , race- ethnicity none of this has been taken under consideration .

Because the argument is based on several unwarranted assumptions , we can refute the study .The argument lacks specific details as mentioned earlier to bolster its study.

 

 

 

 

 

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