Question 105·200 Super-Hard SAT Reading Questions·Information and Ideas
Some researchers treat title-consistent details in viewers' later descriptions of paintings as evidence that a painting's title directed attention during viewing. To test this assumption, cognitive scientist Nara Liao tracked participants' eye movements as they examined abstract paintings. One group saw each painting's title before viewing it, another received the title immediately afterward, and a third received only an inventory code. The first group fixated more on regions associated with the title than the other groups did. The post-viewing-title and inventory-code groups, however, had statistically indistinguishable fixation patterns. Yet in a surprise description task the next day, the post-viewing-title group mentioned more title-consistent details than the inventory-code group did. Liao's results therefore indicate that _____.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For an inference question, identify the claim or assumption being tested and then compare the groups that differ in only the relevant condition. Choose the cautious conclusion supported by the complete pattern of results, and reject options that make broad claims about causation, necessity, or measurement reliability that the study did not establish.
Hints
Focus on timing
Consider when each group received the painting's title relative to when eye movements were recorded.
Compare two kinds of evidence
Examine how the post-viewing-title group differed from the inventory-code group in fixation patterns and in next-day descriptions.
Evaluate the original assumption
Ask whether a difference in later descriptions must have resulted from a difference in attention during the original viewing.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the assumption under investigation
Some researchers interpret title-consistent descriptions as evidence that a title changed where viewers directed their attention.
Compare the crucial groups
The post-viewing-title and inventory-code groups had similar fixation patterns, but the post-viewing-title group later mentioned more title-consistent details.
Draw the supported inference
Because a title supplied only after viewing affected later descriptions without producing a title-related fixation pattern during viewing, the descriptions alone are not sufficient evidence that the title initially guided attention.