500 CR Section 10 #17

veekay · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject: 500 CR Section 10 #17

17. Working shorter workweeks causes managers to feel
less stress than does working longer workweeks. In
addition, greater perceived control over one's work
life reduces stress levels. It can be concluded, there-
fore, that shorter workweeks cause managers to feel
they have more control over their work life.

The argument made above uses which of the follow-
ing questionable techniques?
(A) Associating two conditions as cause and effect
on the basis of their being causally associated
with the same phenomenon
(B) Taking for granted that two factors that have a
certain effect individually produce that effect
more strongly when both act together.
(C) Assuming what it sets out to prove
(D) Using an irrelevant point in order to draw a
conclusion
(E) Basing a conclusion on preconceived views
about the needs of managers

saurabh_1922@yahoo.co.in · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:30 pm Post subject:

I think B.

what is the OA

mayonnai5e · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:02 am Post subject:

Working shorter workweeks causes managers to feel
less stress than does working longer workweeks. In
addition, greater perceived control over one's work
life reduces stress levels. It can be concluded, there-
fore, that shorter workweeks cause managers to feel
they have more control over their work life.

The answer is A.

"Working shorter workweeks causes managers to feel
less stress than does working longer workweeks."
* shorter workweeks --> less stress

"greater perceived control over one's work
life reduces stress levels"
* greater perceived control --> reduced stress level

Both conditions mentioned above are causes for reduced stress level.

"It can be concluded, therefore, that shorter workweeks cause managers to feel they have more control over their work life."
* shorter workweeks --> greater perceived control

You can see the reasoning has made an error in logic by associating the two causes for reduced stress. Here, one cause (greater perceived control) becomes the effect of the other. Answer choice A correctly identifies this mixup.

mayonnai5e · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:11 am Post subject:

How to guess:

If you look at the logic behind the stimulus, there are different reasons given for a particular effect (less stress). Thus the stimulus focuses on cause and effect. The only answer choice that discusses cause/effect (causal relationships) is A.

veekay · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:14 am Post subject:

mayonnai5e · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

TT · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 6:24 am Post subject: TT

OA is A. I think he mistyped it.