Question

A study shows that employees who work from home tend to be more productive. A company is considering allowing employees to work from home at least three days a week. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the company's argument?

• A. The study was conducted in a similar industry to the company's.
• B. Employees who work from home tend to take more breaks.
• C. The company's employees have been reporting high levels of job satisfaction.
• D. The study shows that productivity levels decline after employees work from home for more than three days a week.

Hint:

When an argument relies on a study, survey, or experiment, the most effective way to strengthen it is to show the study was well-conducted and relevant (e.g., large, representative sample; similar conditions). The most effective way to weaken it is to show the study was flawed or irrelevant.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This is a Critical Reasoning question asking to strengthen an argument. The argument uses evidence from a study to support a business decision. To strengthen the argument, we need to reinforce the connection between the evidence (the study) and the conclusion (the company's plan).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The company's argument is: A study shows WFH is more productive, therefore our company should adopt WFH. The unstated assumption is that the study's results are applicable to this specific company.
- (A) If the study was conducted in a similar industry, it makes it much more likely that the results are relevant and applicable to this company. This directly strengthens the logical bridge between the evidence and the conclusion.
- (B) Taking more breaks would suggest lower, not higher, productivity, which would weaken the argument.
- (C) High job satisfaction is a positive factor but doesn't directly support the claim that the WFH plan will increase *productivity* based on the external study.
- (D) This information weakens the argument. The company's plan is for "at least three days," which could include four or five. If the study shows productivity declines after three days, the plan could be counterproductive.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The best way to strengthen an argument based on an analogy or an external study is to show that the subjects of comparison are similar. Option (A) does this perfectly.