Community engagement initiatives commonly employ direct outreach methods—door-to-door canvassing, for example, or town hall meetings—to encourage citi...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Community engagement initiatives commonly employ direct outreach methods—door-to-door canvassing, for example, or town hall meetings—to encourage citizen participation. Urban sociologist Dr. James Chen and colleagues found that indirect approaches can be equally effective: creating 'discovery opportunities' through environmental design. Chen's research demonstrates that when familiar community spaces undergo subtle modifications, residents naturally explore these changes, leading them to encounter and engage with civic resources they had previously ignored.
Which response from community members interviewed after a neighborhood redesign project best supports Chen's findings?
'I received a postcard about the new community bulletin board, so I made a point to stop by and see what information was posted there.'
'The community center has more programs than the facility in the adjacent neighborhood, which is why I choose to participate in activities here.'
'When they moved the bus stop, I had to walk a different route to work. During that walk, I noticed the little free library and now I visit it regularly.'
'I looked everywhere for the old information kiosk after they redesigned the plaza, but I never could find where they relocated it.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Community engagement initiatives commonly employ direct outreach methods—door-to-door canvassing, for example, or town hall meetings—to encourage citizen participation.' |
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| 'Urban sociologist Dr. James Chen and colleagues found that indirect approaches can be equally effective:' |
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| 'creating discovery opportunities through environmental design.' |
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| 'Chen's research demonstrates that when familiar community spaces undergo subtle modifications, residents naturally explore these changes,' |
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| 'leading them to encounter and engage with civic resources they had previously ignored.' |
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Main Point: Dr. Chen's research shows that indirect community engagement through environmental design changes can be as effective as traditional direct outreach methods.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes traditional direct engagement methods as the norm, then presents Chen's contrasting research showing indirect methods work equally well. It explains that these indirect methods involve creating discovery opportunities through environmental design, where small modifications to familiar spaces lead residents to naturally explore and discover civic resources they had previously overlooked.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find which community member response provides the best support for Chen's specific findings about indirect engagement through environmental design.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that demonstrates Chen's theory in action - someone who discovered civic resources through environmental changes, not direct outreach.
Any limiting keywords? N/A
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct response must show someone who discovered civic resources through environmental changes
- Based on Chen's research, we need evidence of: an environmental modification to a familiar space, a resident naturally exploring this change, and this exploration leading them to discover civic resources they had previously ignored
'I received a postcard about the new community bulletin board, so I made a point to stop by and see what information was posted there.'
- This describes direct outreach (postcard notification) leading to engagement
- Goes against Chen's findings about indirect discovery through environmental design
'The community center has more programs than the facility in the adjacent neighborhood, which is why I choose to participate in activities here.'
- This person chose the community center based on comparing programs, not discovering through environmental changes
- No mention of environmental modifications leading to discovery
'When they moved the bus stop, I had to walk a different route to work. During that walk, I noticed the little free library and now I visit it regularly.'
- Shows environmental modification (bus stop relocation) leading to natural exploration (different walking route)
- This exploration led to discovering a civic resource (free library) that they now regularly use
- Perfectly demonstrates Chen's theory
'I looked everywhere for the old information kiosk after they redesigned the plaza, but I never could find where they relocated it.'
- Shows frustration with environmental changes rather than successful discovery
- The person could not find the relocated resource, which contradicts Chen's findings