GMAT Focus EditionVerbal ReasoningMedium
A company recently launched a new employee wellness program, offering free gym memberships and healthy cooking classes. Six months later, the company reported a slight decrease in overall employee healthcare costs. The company CEO concluded that the wellness program was responsible for this reduction. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the CEO's conclusion?
- AParticipation in the wellness program was voluntary, with only 30% of employees joining.
- BA similar wellness program implemented at a competitor's company did not show a decrease in healthcare costs.
- CThe company also changed its healthcare provider, resulting in lower premiums for all employees.
- DMany employees who joined the wellness program were already actively engaged in healthy lifestyles.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The company also changed its healthcare provider, resulting in lower premiums for all employees.
The CEO attributes the cost reduction to the wellness program. Option B provides an alternative, direct cause for lower healthcare costs (a change in healthcare provider), which would weaken the conclusion that the wellness program was solely responsible.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Low participation might explain why the effect wasn't larger, but doesn't offer an alternative cause for the observed (slight) decrease.
- B. While interesting, a competitor's results don't directly explain the observed outcome at *this* company; there could be many differences.
- D. This suggests self-selection bias, weakening the *program's effectiveness* but not directly weakening the link to *overall healthcare costs* if those healthy employees still use less healthcare.
Alternative Cause (Weakening)
Introducing another plausible factor that could be responsible for the observed effect, thereby weakening the original causal claim.
- Directly challenges the 'cause and effect' relationship.
- Suggests the observed outcome would have happened anyway, or for a different reason.
- Must be a valid and plausible alternative explanation.
Memory trick: Don't assume one road leads to town; there might be another, clearer path.