LSAT (Law School Admission Test)Logical ReasoningMedium
A company executive argues: 'Our new employee wellness program, which offers free gym memberships and weekly mindfulness sessions, has significantly boosted employee morale. Since implementing the program six months ago, our annual employee turnover rate has dropped from 20% to 10%.'
- AIt fails to consider other factors that might have influenced the employee turnover rate during that period.
- BIt does not provide evidence that increased morale directly leads to decreased turnover.
- CIt assumes that the wellness program is the sole reason for the decrease in employee turnover.
- DIt ignores the possibility that the employees who left were already less engaged.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. It fails to consider other factors that might have influenced the employee turnover rate during that period.
The executive attributes the drop in turnover solely to the wellness program. However, numerous other factors could influence turnover rates over a six-month period, such as changes in the job market, competitive salaries, management changes, or other company policies. The argument overlooks these alternative causes.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. The argument states the program boosted morale *and* turnover dropped. While the link between morale and turnover is generally accepted, the primary flaw is in linking the *program* to the *turnover drop* directly, without considering other causes.
- C. This option is very similar to B. However, B is a more direct and encompassing statement of the flaw, which is the failure to consider *any* other factors, not just that it assumes it's the *sole* reason. Even if it's *a* reason, other factors must be considered to properly assess its impact.
- D. This option describes a characteristic of the employees who left, which might be a factor, but the core flaw is the failure to consider broader, external or company-wide factors influencing turnover, not just the characteristics of the departing employees.
Alternative Cause
A flaw in reasoning where an arguer attributes an effect to a specific cause, while ignoring other plausible factors that could also have caused or contributed to the effect.
- Common in correlation-causation arguments.
- Fails to eliminate other possible explanations.
- Weakens the causal link between the proposed cause and effect.
Memory trick: When cause and effect are claimed, always ask 'What else might be blamed?'