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CR - Basis of Explanation

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CR - Basis of Explanation

by karthikpandian19 » Mon May 28, 2012 9:54 pm
n an experiment involving taste, researchers had participants try two versions of a cola, one regular and another, called "cola extra," to which a secret ingredient had been added. The researchers found that, when the tasters did not know that the secret ingredient was white vinegar, they preferred "cola extra" by a margin of almost two to one. However, when tasters were told the identity of the secret ingredient before drinking, they preferred the cola without vinegar 98% of the time.

Which of the following, if true, forms the best basis for an explanation of this outcome?

Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" and will always prefer that choice.
For most consumers, expectation strongly influences the ability to accurately distinguish flavors.
Most cola drinkers prefer beverages without vinegar, even when they do not know vinegar is present.
Researchers skewed results by telling participants in the second group what the secret ingredient was.
The first group of taste testers was disproportionately composed of people who enjoy the taste of vinegar.
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by Birottam Dutta » Mon May 28, 2012 10:37 pm
Here, A seems to be the best choice. Because most people are excited at the thought of tasting a secret ingredient in the cola, they prefer it to the normal one. However, upon getting to know about the ingredient, they can objectively decide whether they like it or not.

The other choices are not good enough or are out of scope/context.

Hence, A!
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by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Mon May 28, 2012 10:46 pm
I was also thinking of b but after the second thought it seems too general.
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by karthikpandian19 » Mon May 28, 2012 11:16 pm
OA is B[

It will be best if an Instructor provides an explanation for each options....Can you provide ?

quote="Kasia@MasterGMAT"]I was also thinking of b but after the second thought it seems too general.
Well done![/quote]
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by karthikpandian19 » Mon May 28, 2012 11:17 pm
Birottam,

A is one sided answer....

Hence, B is the generalized answer as mentioned by the expert.
Birottam Dutta wrote:Here, A seems to be the best choice. Because most people are excited at the thought of tasting a secret ingredient in the cola, they prefer it to the normal one. However, upon getting to know about the ingredient, they can objectively decide whether they like it or not.

The other choices are not good enough or are out of scope/context.

Hence, A!
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by Birottam Dutta » Mon May 28, 2012 11:54 pm
Can you please explain a bit more elaborately? How is A a one sided answer?

Expert help required here!!!!
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by karthikpandian19 » Tue May 29, 2012 4:23 am
Actually me too expecting for an Expert reply on this part for the OA B
Birottam Dutta wrote:Can you please explain a bit more elaborately? How is A a one sided answer?

Expert help required here!!!!
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by eagleeye » Tue May 29, 2012 4:49 am
The correct answer should be B. Let me explain:


Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" and will always prefer that choice.
While the statement could be true that " Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" " and would provide a good explanation, we already know that if people are told that the "secret ingredient" is vinegar, they will choose it only 2% of the time. This contradicts "will always prefer that choice." NO.

For most consumers, expectation strongly influences the ability to accurately distinguish flavors.
Clearly, this is what the passage was all about. When they did not know what was in the extra cola, almost 66% chose it. When they knew what the ingredient was, they must have expected it to perceive it a certain way since now only 2% chose it. YES.

Most cola drinkers prefer beverages without vinegar, even when they do not know vinegar is present.
This is opposite of what the paragraph says. When they don't know its vinegar, most people choose the one with vinegar. NO.

Researchers skewed results by telling participants in the second group what the secret ingredient was.
This is not a reason why people chose the regular cola. Rather, it is just a rehash of the conclusion. NO.

The first group of taste testers was disproportionately composed of people who enjoy the taste of vinegar.
While this could be true, its a very weak explanation, and certainly not as good as the second one. Also, the people may like the vinegar's taste, they might not like the taste in cola. NO. (It is worthy to note that in absence of option B, I would have gone with this as the option).

Let me know if this helps :)
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by Birottam Dutta » Tue May 29, 2012 9:17 am
Dear Eagleeye,

Please try and understand that your explanation is really self-contradictory.

Your explanation below:

Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" and will always prefer that choice.
While the statement could be true that " Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" " and would provide a good explanation, we already know that if people are told that the "secret ingredient" is vinegar, they will choose it only 2% of the time. This contradicts "will always prefer that choice."

You have to realize that when they are told that the secret ingredient is vinegar, it is no longer a "secret ingredient". So, how can you say that this contradicts "will always prefer that choice". This is really not making sense. They prefer the ingredient as long as it is secret, when it is revealed, they can then make an unbiased judgement.


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by eagleeye » Tue May 29, 2012 9:55 am
Birottam Dutta wrote:Dear Eagleeye,

Please try and understand that your explanation is really self-contradictory.

Your explanation below:

Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" and will always prefer that choice.
While the statement could be true that " Most consumers are excited by the possibility of tasting a "secret ingredient" " and would provide a good explanation, we already know that if people are told that the "secret ingredient" is vinegar, they will choose it only 2% of the time. This contradicts "will always prefer that choice."

You have to realize that when they are told that the secret ingredient is vinegar, it is no longer a "secret ingredient". So, how can you say that this contradicts "will always prefer that choice". This is really not making sense. They prefer the ingredient as long as it is secret, when it is revealed, they can then make an unbiased judgement.


Please we need expert help here!!!!
Birottam. You bring up an important point, I should have explained this one better.
In the statement, nowhere does it say that, during the first round of tests, whether the people were told that there was a "secret ingredient" in extra.

In the first round, as the statement reads, only the companies knew for certain that there was a secret ingredient in extra. Hence people may or may not have expected themselves that there was "a secret ingredient". This is a subtle point, but a very important one.
In the first round, they may not have been told that there was a "secret ingredient".
If I were to give you two colas, and call one regular and another one extra, would you always think that there was a secret ingredient. You wouldn't, right? But I would know that I added a vinegar to it.

Hence we don't know whether any or all of them "expected" the possibility of the presence of a "secret ingredient". This explanation should also help see why B is definitely the right answer.


PS: Edit: Another question you might ask is, since the company knows the ingredient, who is it really secret for. It is "secret" for the reader of the article, since we are being told that the company had added something to the extra cola.

Let me know if this helps :)
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by jimmyjimmy » Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:20 pm
However, when tasters were told the identity of the secret ingredient before drinking, they preferred the cola without vinegar 98% of the time. (tasters already know the taste of original cola, nw they are told that one is original and other is with vinegar,

B-For most consumers, expectation strongly influences the ability to accurately distinguish flavors.

by selecting original cola for 98% times , B fits fine..(tasters will select the stuff they already know)
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