Question

A sociologist recently studied two sets of teenagers. The members of one set spent 10 or more hours per week watching violent television programs, and the members of the other set spent 2 hours or less per week watching violent television programs. A significantly greater proportion of the teenagers in the former group exhibited aggressive behavior during the period of the study. The sociologists reasoned that the prolonged exposure to television violence caused the aggressive behavior.

Which of the following, if true, of the teenagers in the study, provides the strongest challenge to the sociologist’s conclusion?

• A. Some teenagers who watched more than 10 hours of violent television programming per week behaved less aggressively than others in the same group of teenagers.
• B. Some teenagers who watched 2 hours of violent television programming per week did not behave aggressively.
• C. Some teenagers voluntarily stopped watching violent television programs after being victims of violence.
• D. Some teenagers watched violent television programs alone, while others did so in groups.
• E. Many of the teenagers in the first group exhibited aggressive behavior before the study began.

Answer 1

The correct option is E Many of the teenagers in the first group exhibited aggressive behavior before the study began.

Option (E) is the correct answer. Check the video for the approach.