The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal."A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situ

The argument that the birth order matters in individual’s level of stimulation in a study conducted in rhesus monkey is not completely convincing. The argument has several flaws:

First, the author assumes that the stimulating situations increased twice the level of cortisol hormone in first born than other younger siblings. The argument does not clearly explain how stimulation affects the increase in cortisol in first-born. The alternative explanation would be that the younger ones are still developing and the machinery in body is not completely developed like the first-born. So, the increase in level of hormone in first-born cannot be an indicator of level of stimulation which affects birth order.

Second, there is no statistical evidence to show that the study was conducted in exact number of rhesus monkeys and the number of them showed increased levels of hormone-cortisol in first born. The alternative explanation is that the study was not conducted at each offspring at same age or no information is provided. Without any statistical evidence the argument cannot conclude that birth order has any role on an individual level of stimulation.

Finally, the argument even adds that first-time pregnant monkey had high levels of cortisol than who had many offspring. The alternative explanation is that the first-time pregnant monkey may be more responsive while the monkey with many offspring is not much responsive to such stimulation. The evidence that first-time pregnant monkey having an increase in cortisol cannot explain the birth order on an individual’s level of stimulation.

Thus, the argument fails to address clearly how birth order affects individual’s level of stimulation and provides no statistical evidence to show the increase in level of cortisol and also, the first-time mother monkey had high levels of hormone than other mothers with many offspring’s. The argument can be better explained first, if the mechanism involved in connection with stimulation and increase in hormone and the place where hormone is produced is well developed in all offspring’s. Second, if the details of the number of monkeys and the conditions used to stimulate are explained and finally the first-pregnant monkey had similar responses to other hormones as well. However, the argument in current state is flawed.