A 2018 study of workplace productivity examined the effects of flexible scheduling on employee output. The research demonstrated that workers...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
A 2018 study of workplace productivity examined the effects of flexible scheduling on employee output. The research demonstrated that workers with flexible hours completed \(15\%\) more tasks than those with fixed schedules. _____ the same employees reported significantly higher job satisfaction scores throughout the study period.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
In contrast,
Additionally,
For instance,
As a result,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A 2018 study of workplace productivity examined the effects of flexible scheduling on employee output.' |
|
| 'The research demonstrated that workers with flexible hours completed \(15\%\) more tasks than those with fixed schedules.' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'the same employees reported significantly higher job satisfaction scores throughout the study period.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A 2018 study found that flexible scheduling produced both higher productivity and higher job satisfaction among workers.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces a workplace study, presents one positive finding about productivity, and then provides a second positive finding about job satisfaction from the same group of employees.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, we have two separate positive findings from the same study about flexible scheduling
- The first finding shows workers completed more tasks, and the second finding shows the same workers had higher job satisfaction
- These are both benefits supporting flexible scheduling, so we need a transition that adds more supporting information rather than contrasting or showing cause-and-effect
- So the right answer should signal that we're adding another positive finding to support the benefits of flexible scheduling
In contrast,
✓ Incorrect
- This signals opposition or contradiction between ideas
- But both findings support flexible scheduling benefits - there's no contrast
- Would incorrectly suggest job satisfaction opposes the productivity finding
Additionally,
✓ Correct
- This signals we're adding more supporting information
- Perfectly matches our prethinking - adding a second positive finding
- Creates the logical flow: productivity benefit + job satisfaction benefit
For instance,
✓ Incorrect
- This introduces an example of something previously mentioned
- Job satisfaction isn't an example of completing more tasks
- What trap this represents: Students might think any supporting information counts as an example
As a result,
✓ Incorrect
- This shows cause-and-effect relationship
- Higher job satisfaction isn't necessarily caused by completing 15% more tasks
- What trap this represents: Students might assume any two positive outcomes must be causally related