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Question

Difficulty: MediumEvaluating Supporting Evidence

Passage

For years, cognitive scientists widely accepted the 'bilingual advantage' hypothesis, which posits that managing two languages enhances executive function, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. This claim was supported by early, small-scale studies showing bilinguals outperforming monolinguals on tasks like the Simon sorting game. However, researcher Dr. Elena Vance recently conducted a meta-analysis of over one hundred studies on bilingual cognition. Vance’s analysis revealed a striking pattern: while small studies with fewer than fifty participants frequently reported a significant bilingual advantage, larger studies with sample sizes exceeding three hundred consistently showed no statistically significant difference in executive function between the two groups. Vance argues that this discrepancy is evidence of publication bias, where studies showing positive results are disproportionately published, while those showing null results are shelved. To support this, she demonstrated that the average effect size decreased systematically as the sample size of the studies increased. Vance contends that once this bias is statistically corrected, the cognitive advantage of bilingualism effectively vanishes.

According to the passage, which of the following findings does Dr. Vance present as direct support for her claim that publication bias has distorted the research on the 'bilingual advantage'?

  1. The systematic decrease in the average reported effect size of the bilingual advantage as the sample size of the studies increasedAnswer
  2. B
    Early, small-scale studies demonstrating that bilingual individuals consistently outperform monolinguals on cognitive sorting tasks
  3. C
    The assertion that cognitive scientists have historically neglected the role of working memory and cognitive flexibility in bilingualism
  4. D
    The theoretical model proposing that managing two distinct language systems must logically improve a speaker's general executive function

Answer

The finding that the average reported effect size of the bilingual advantage decreased systematically as the sample size of the studies increased.
The correct option is supported by the passage, which explicitly states that to support her claim of publication bias, Dr. Vance demonstrated that the average effect size of the studies decreased systematically as their sample sizes increased. This relationship between sample size and effect size serves as the empirical evidence for the bias.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify Dr. Elena Vance's claim regarding publication bias in the passage.
Dr. Vance claims that publication bias has distorted research, leading to an inflation of the reported bilingual advantage.
Establishing the claim is necessary to identify the evidence that supports it.
2
Locate the specific details or findings in the passage that Dr. Vance uses to support this publication bias claim.
The passage states she supports this claim by demonstrating that 'the average effect size decreased systematically as the sample size of the studies increased.'
This step finds the direct connection between her claim and the supporting evidence in the text.
3
Match the identified textual evidence with the correct option.
The option stating that there is a systematic decrease in the average reported effect size as sample size increased matches the text.
Confirming the match ensures the selected answer is directly supported without external assumptions.

Key Concept

Evaluating Supporting Evidence
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Evaluating Supporting Evidence

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