The reading habits of Waymarsh citizens conducted by the University of Waymarsh, most respondents said that they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a second study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Waymarsh was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.’This argument assumes that respondents in the University of Waymarsh study were telling the truth about their reading preferences. But, what if they were? While we cannot be certain, we can look at possible explanations for their alleged misrepresentation.

According to the study’s methodology, it is not known how many respondents filled out the questionnaire, nor how many books were checked out of each of the libraries. If each respondent had only one book checked out, then it is possible that the respondents did not prefer classic literature. If, however, each respondent had an average of ten books checked out, then it seems more likely that the respondents preferred classic literature. For example, if 50 people, all of whom were local and relatively affluent, filled out the questionnaire, then 50 out of 350 books checked out could have been classics. That is only 11%, and, even if 100 people filled out the questionnaire, the percentage of classics would still be only 15%. While 15% may be a conservative estimate, it does not seem likely that all the respondents preferred classic literature. Similarly, if 50 people filled out the questionnaire, 50 out of 500 books checked out could have been mysteries. In that case, 25% of the books checked out could have been mysteries, which is a reasonable percentage of mystery books checked out.

Similarly, if 50 people filled out the questionnaire, 50 out of 750 books checked out could have been romance novels. In that case, 25% of the books checked out could have been romance novels. Again, this percentage seems reasonable given that romance novels are among the most popular types of literature. Thus, if 50 people filled out the questionnaire, then either 25% of them preferred classic literature, 25% preferred mystery novels, or 25% preferred romance novels. But, if 50 people filled out the questionnaire, then 25% of them either preferred classic literature, mystery novels, or romance novels.

Although the questionnaire did not specify which libraries were surveyed, it is possible to determine which libraries might have contained the most mystery novels and which might have contained the most romance novels. Then, one could compare the libraries, based on the number of books checked out, to determine the percentage of classic literature, mystery novels, or romance novels. For example, if 50 people, all of whom were local and relatively affluent, filled out the questionnaire, then 50 out of 500 books checked out could have been classics. In that case, 25% of the books checked out could have been classics, and 75% of the books checked out could have been mystery novels. If 50 people, all of whom were local and relatively affluent, filled out the questionnaire, then 50 out of 750 books checked out could have been romance novels. In that case, 25% of the books checked out could have been romance novels, and 75% of the books checked out could have been mystery novels. Thus, the percentage of classic literature, mystery novels, and romance novels checked out of the libraries, as determined by this hypothetical study, would be 25%, 75%, and 25%, respectively. Therefore, the respondents may not have misrepresented their reading habits.

They may have misrepresented their reading habits. In actuality, mystery novels and romance novels are more popular than classic literature, and people may not prefer to read literature that is considered “old hat” or outdated. Thus, if the respondents in this study had misrepresented their reading habits, then it is possible that their preferences were influenced by their preferences for mystery novels and romance novels.

The conclusion of this argument also assumes that the University of Waymarsh study is the only source of data about which types of books Waymarsh citizens read. But, it is possible that other sources of information exist. For example, it is possible that bookstores in Waymarsh sell more mystery novels and romance novels than do bookstores in other cities. In that case, Waymarsh citizens may favor mystery novels and romance novels more, and that preference may influence how they answer the question in the questionnaire. Furthermore, Waymarsh citizens may prefer to shop for mystery novels and romance novels online. In that case, they may prefer to visit websites that sell mystery novels and romance novels more than do websites that sell classic literature. It is also possible that Waymarsh citizens prefer to read mystery novels and romance novels than do residents of other cities. If so, then their preference for mystery novels and romance novels may cause them to answer the questionnaire in a way that favors mystery novels and romance novels over classic literature. Therefore, it is not sufficient to rely on the results of the University of Waymarsh study alone when evaluating this argument.

Another possible explanation for the results of the survey is that Waymarsh citizens may have misrepresented their reading habits. In other words, it is possible that Waymarsh citizens