Negation Test Help

[tkin20]

I know that the negation test can only be applied to necessary assumption questions, but when I negate an answer choice, I'm having trouble understanding how the negated choice weakens the argument. I sometimes think a choice weakens the argument, but it turns out to be the wrong choice. Are there any tips to understanding the negation test more?

[Robert Carroll]

tkin20,

Because the Assumption Negation Technique converts an Assumption question into a Weaken question, apply every principle you'd use for a Weaken question - how does the negated answer choice make the conclusion worse? If the argument is causal, apply the principles for Weakening cause and effect arguments - finding alternative causes, showing the cause can exist without the effect, showing the effect can exist without the cause, showing that cause and effect could be reversed, or undermining the data. If you're good at Weaken questions, use that skill here - it's all you're doing! If Weaken questions are also a struggle, then that is probably why you're having difficulty using the Assumption Negation Technique - work on Weaken in addition to help those skills.

Robert Carroll