When Jennifer Walsh analyzed consumer purchasing patterns for her specialty coffee market research, she discovered something that challenged conventio...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
When Jennifer Walsh analyzed consumer purchasing patterns for her specialty coffee market research, she discovered something that challenged conventional wisdom about retail expansion in the 2010s. Her Portland urban location data revealed robust growth during the same period that Seattle suburban markets were experiencing unprecedented expansion. This dual growth pattern contradicted established market theories suggesting coffee chain development followed a simple urban-to-suburban migration model. The traditional framework predicted that strong suburban performance should coincide with urban market decline, yet Walsh's comparative analysis of both datasets indicated a different dynamic entirely. Her research concluded that specialty coffee markets were expanding simultaneously across urban and suburban segments rather than following the predicted shift pattern.
Which consumer data finding, if true, would most directly support Walsh's conclusion?
Seattle suburban data shows strong specialty coffee growth while Portland urban data shows declining sales during the same period.
Both Seattle suburban locations and Portland urban locations demonstrate increased specialty coffee sales during identical time periods in the 2010s.
Neither Seattle suburban markets nor Portland urban markets show significant changes in overall retail activity during the 2010s.
Both market segments show evidence of decreased consumer spending and reduced specialty coffee consumption throughout the 2010s.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| When Jennifer Walsh analyzed consumer purchasing patterns for her specialty coffee market research, she discovered something that challenged conventional wisdom about retail expansion in the 2010s. |
|
| Her Portland urban location data revealed robust growth during the same period that Seattle suburban markets were experiencing unprecedented expansion. |
|
| This dual growth pattern contradicted established market theories suggesting coffee chain development followed a simple urban-to-suburban migration model. |
|
| The traditional framework predicted that strong suburban performance should coincide with urban market decline, yet Walsh's comparative analysis of both datasets indicated a different dynamic entirely. |
|
| Her research concluded that specialty coffee markets were expanding simultaneously across urban and suburban segments rather than following the predicted shift pattern. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Jennifer Walsh's coffee market research concluded that urban and suburban specialty coffee markets grow simultaneously rather than following the traditional urban-to-suburban migration pattern.
Argument Flow: The passage presents Walsh's research findings that challenged conventional retail expansion theory. While traditional thinking predicted that strong suburban coffee market performance would coincide with urban decline, Walsh found robust growth in both Portland urban locations and Seattle suburban locations during the same time period. This led her to conclude that specialty coffee markets expand simultaneously across both segments rather than following a simple migration pattern.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which data finding would most directly support Walsh's conclusion?
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that backs up Walsh's specific conclusion about simultaneous market expansion
Any limiting keywords? most directly support - we need the choice that provides the strongest, clearest evidence for her conclusion
This is a Command of Evidence question, so we need to identify which piece of data would best validate Walsh's research conclusion that specialty coffee markets expand simultaneously across urban and suburban segments.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Walsh concluded that urban and suburban specialty coffee markets grow together at the same time, rather than one declining while the other grows
- So the right answer should show:
- Evidence of both urban AND suburban markets performing well
- Growth happening in the same time period (simultaneously)
- Data that contradicts the traditional one up, one down migration pattern
- The answer shouldn't show the traditional pattern (suburban growth with urban decline) or lack of growth in either segment
Seattle suburban data shows strong specialty coffee growth while Portland urban data shows declining sales during the same period.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows Seattle suburban growth with Portland urban decline during the same period
- This actually supports the traditional migration model that Walsh's research contradicted
- Trap: Students might choose this because it mentions both locations from the passage, but it shows the old pattern Walsh argued against
Both Seattle suburban locations and Portland urban locations demonstrate increased specialty coffee sales during identical time periods in the 2010s.
✓ Correct
- Shows both Seattle suburban locations AND Portland urban locations with increased sales during identical time periods
- Perfectly matches Walsh's conclusion about simultaneous expansion across both market segments
- Directly contradicts the traditional theory that predicted opposing performance
Neither Seattle suburban markets nor Portland urban markets show significant changes in overall retail activity during the 2010s.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows no significant changes in either market segment
- Doesn't support Walsh's conclusion about growth and expansion
- Provides no evidence of the simultaneous market expansion she identified
Both market segments show evidence of decreased consumer spending and reduced specialty coffee consumption throughout the 2010s.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows decreased spending and consumption in both segments
- Contradicts Walsh's finding of robust growth and expansion
- Points to market decline rather than the growth pattern Walsh documented