Complete the sentence with the word that conveys appropriate academic skepticism: 'The author's conclusions remain _______ because the study relied solely on self-reported survey data from a very small sample.'

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Dubious

  1. Step 1: Self-reported survey data from a very small sample is a well-known methodological weakness that casts doubt on reliability.
  2. Step 2: 'Dubious' means hesitating, doubtful, or not to be relied upon.
  3. Step 3: This fits the sentence structure perfectly.
Answer
Dubious.
Why not the others: 'Incontrovertible' means impossible to deny or dispute, which contradicts poor methodology; 'Definitive' means conclusive and final; 'Exhaustive' means covering everything.

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