In 2022, Crystal Reeck and colleagues studied whether the decision-making modes that guide consumers influence their choice between nonenvironmentally...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In 2022, Crystal Reeck and colleagues studied whether the decision-making modes that guide consumers influence their choice between nonenvironmentally friendly standard electricity plans and environmentally friendly green plans that cap electricity usage. Study participants who self-reported using either an Affect Mode or Role Mode—which prioritize choices that have a stronger positive emotional or social impact, respectively—were more likely to select a green plan. Conversely, participants using a Calculation Mode—which aims to minimize both financial cost and personal inconvenience—were more likely to select a standard plan, even when the green option was cheaper. This finding suggests that participants using a Calculation Mode ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In 2022, Crystal Reeck and colleagues studied whether the decision-making modes that guide consumers influence their choice between nonenvironmentally friendly standard electricity plans and environmentally friendly green plans that cap electricity usage.' |
|
| 'Study participants who self-reported using either an Affect Mode or Role Mode—which prioritize choices that have a stronger positive emotional or social impact, respectively—were more likely to select a green plan.' |
|
| 'Conversely, participants using a Calculation Mode—which aims to minimize both financial cost and personal inconvenience—were more likely to select a standard plan, even when the green option was cheaper.' |
|
| 'This finding suggests that participants using a Calculation Mode ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A study found that people using a cost-focused decision-making approach paradoxically chose more expensive electricity plans over cheaper green alternatives, suggesting their calculations included factors beyond simple price.
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
- The key puzzle is why people focused on minimizing cost and inconvenience would reject a cheaper option
- This suggests they must have perceived some additional burden or cost that wasn't immediately obvious
- For Calculation Mode users to reject a financially better deal, they likely calculated that the green plan imposed extra complications or inconveniences that outweighed the money saved
- Claims Calculation Mode users were equally unlikely to factor financial savings as other modes. This contradicts the passage since Calculation Mode specifically aims to minimize financial cost.
- Suggests they were motivated by social responsibility more than they realized. This doesn't align with Calculation Mode's focus on cost and convenience rather than social impact.
- Suggests they saw additional burdens in the green plan that weren't offset by financial savings. This perfectly explains the puzzle and aligns with Calculation Mode's focus on minimizing both financial cost AND personal inconvenience.
- Claims they were less likely to believe the green plan was truly cost-effective. The passage states the green option WAS cheaper with no indication they doubted this fact.