Dr. Elena Martinez and Dr. David Kim investigated online purchasing behaviors of consumers across Texas. The research team interviewed adult...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Dr. Elena Martinez and Dr. David Kim investigated online purchasing behaviors of consumers across Texas. The research team interviewed adult shoppers to understand their digital shopping experiences, motivations for online purchases, and preferred e-commerce platforms. Martinez and Kim assert that regular online consumers who value convenience are more likely to choose websites with simplified checkout procedures.
What response would best contradict this assertion?
I seldom purchase items online since I need to physically examine products before making a purchase.
I make online purchases multiple times weekly to save time, however I actually favor sites with comprehensive checkout procedures because I prefer to verify all details before completing my order.
I like exploring various e-commerce sites to compare pricing, despite this extending my decision-making process.
I previously shopped online regularly, but recently I've been working to decrease my total expenditures.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Dr. Elena Martinez and Dr. David Kim investigated online purchasing behaviors of consumers across Texas.' |
|
| 'The research team interviewed adult shoppers to understand their digital shopping experiences, motivations for online purchases, and preferred e-commerce platforms.' |
|
| 'Martinez and Kim assert that regular online consumers who value convenience are more likely to choose websites with simplified checkout procedures.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
- Main Point: Martinez and Kim claim that online shoppers who regularly buy online and value convenience tend to prefer websites with simplified checkout processes.
- Argument Flow: The passage establishes the researchers and their Texas-based study, describes their interview method with adult shoppers, and concludes with their key finding about the relationship between convenience-seeking behavior and checkout procedure preferences.
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
- To contradict their assertion, we need someone who fits their description of 'regular online consumers who value convenience' BUT who actually prefers comprehensive (not simplified) checkout procedures
- This would directly challenge their claim by showing that even convenience-focused regular shoppers might actually prefer more complex checkout processes
- The key elements are:
- Person must be a regular online consumer
- Person must value convenience
- BUT person must prefer comprehensive/complex checkout procedures
I seldom purchase items online since I need to physically examine products before making a purchase.
✗ Incorrect
- Person 'seldom' purchases online, so they're not a regular online consumer
- This doesn't contradict the assertion since it's about someone outside the target group
I make online purchases multiple times weekly to save time, however I actually favor sites with comprehensive checkout procedures because I prefer to verify all details before completing my order.
✓ Correct
- Person makes purchases 'multiple times weekly' (regular consumer) and does it 'to save time' (values convenience)
- Yet this person 'actually favors sites with comprehensive checkout procedures'
- This directly contradicts the assertion by showing someone who fits the profile but has opposite preferences
I like exploring various e-commerce sites to compare pricing, despite this extending my decision-making process.
✗ Incorrect
- Person explores various sites despite longer decision-making, but this doesn't address checkout procedures specifically
- While it mentions time considerations, it doesn't contradict the checkout preference claim
I previously shopped online regularly, but recently I've been working to decrease my total expenditures.
✗ Incorrect
- Person was previously a regular shopper but is now reducing expenditures
- This addresses spending behavior, not checkout procedure preferences
- Doesn't contradict the assertion about convenience and checkout simplicity