Gre analytical Writing issue essay Topic 101

GRE Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Topic - 191 
"When research priorities are being set for science, education, or any other area, the most 
important question to consider is: How many people's lives will be improved if the results are 
successful?" 
GRE AWA Analytical Writing ISSUE Essay Sample 
Solution - 191 
Research work in any area is carried out to look for answers to existing questions or to dig for 
information that was hitherto unknown. How can then one assess whether the results of the 
research work would be successful or not? Even if there is a strong possibility of the results 
being successful, how can one ascertain how many people's lives would be improved by these 
results because no one knows what the results would be like. The need to provide a high priority 
to the question, "How many people's lives will be improved if the results are successful?" is 
therefore, highly unjustified. 
Before starting research work on any subject, the priorities of the research team would involve 
planning the method in which they have to carry out their research work, the time constraints, the 
ideal end result that they are looking for etc. It is true that the effect of the results on the lives of 
people will also be an important aspect that has to be considered, but this question cannot be 
accorded a high priority as we would be incapable of accurately judging the number of people 
whose lives would be improved. Even if one does arrive at an estimate of the number of people 
whose lives would be improved, one will have to take into account the side-effects of the results 
as well. All the results of any form of research work can be used for both positive as well as 
negative purposes. If we start taking the negative aspects of the results of research work into 
consideration, then it is unlikely that we will be able to justify the conduct of a majority of 
research works in all fields. 
When the research work on atomic energy was being carried out, could there have been an 
estimate of the number of people whose lives would be improved by the results of the research 
work? On the contrary, millions of people lost their lives and even more people are living with 
the aftermath of the atomic explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Had the researchers been able 
to foresee this effect that the results of their research work had on mankind? There is no denying 
the fact that a number of people have benefited from the results of the said research work as it 
has led to the generation of power as well. Even if the negative impact of the research work had 
been foreseen and it had been given a high priority, then stopping the research work could have 
led to a scenario wherein the generation of nuclear power would not have been possible. 
The controversial research work on genetic mutations may affect the lives of millions of people 
by finding the cures for various terminal diseases. However, the results of such a research work 
can also be used for altering the genetic makeup of humans and animals to create monsters. 
Hence, it is evident that the effect of the results of a research work on the lives of people should 

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not be given a high priority as one cannot predict the turn of events that might take place once 
the results are available for common use. 
Therefore, it is in the interest of the society that all forms of research work should be allowed to 
progress without paying much importance to the number of people who are likely to see 
improvements in their lives as a result of the consequences of the research work. 

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