QUESTION TEXT: Productivity growth in industrialized nations has dropped…
QUESTION TYPE: Weaken
CONCLUSION: A business that has increased its reliance on computer technology probably didn’t improve its productivity growth by doing so.
REASONING: Since computer technology became widespread, productivity growth has dropped substantially. This edict is strongest in industries relying on computer technology.
ANALYSIS: The author is noting a correlation between reliance on computer technology and productivity growth. They’ve concluded that, if a business increased its reliance on computer technology, it probably didn’t improve its productivity growth. However, this is inferring causation from correlation. We just know that the drop was worst for industries relying most on computer technology, but it doesn’t mean that more reliance means less productivity growth for individual businesses. It’s possible that the problem is that many businesses are relying on computer technology but haven’t been investing in it, and it becomes obsolete.
The correct answer will probably tell us that increasing reliance on computer technology does improve productivity growth.
___________
- This provides an explanation for why the computer-reliant industries are having trouble, which doesn’t weaken the argument.
- It doesn’t matter that other industries are also stagnating – we don’t care about those! We want to weaken a conclusion about this one. This answer choice tells us nothing helpful in that respect.
- Again, this answer tells us that the people making computer technology are doing well. Big whoop – it doesn’t change the conclusion at all.
- CORRECT. This is exactly what we wanted. If more reliance leads to better productivity growth, then the author’s conclusion is unfounded.
- The author doesn’t care about the future in their argument, and neither do we. We need to show that right now the businesses increasing reliance on computer technology might be doing better for it.
Free Logical Reasoning lesson
Get a free sample of the Logical Reasoning Mastery Seminar. Learn tips for solving LR questions
Leave a Reply