#16 - In a study, shoppers who shopped in a grocery store

[Jeff Wren]

Hi Dancing,

The way that Answer B is worded, it doesn't rule out the possibility that the other group (who used a list) also bought many unnecessary items, but you also shouldn't assume that they did buy many unnecessary items.

If the paradox had been slightly different than the one given in the stimulus and was due to the fact that the group without a list ended up buying more items than the group who did use a list, the answer would likely indicate this by stating that the group who didn't use a list bought many more items than the group who used a list.

[Dancingbambarina]

Hi Dancing,

The way that Answer B is worded, it doesn't rule out the possibility that the other group (who used a list) also bought many unnecessary items, but you also shouldn't assume that they did buy many unnecessary items.

If the paradox had been slightly different than the one given in the stimulus and was due to the fact that the group without a list ended up buying more items than the group who did use a list, the answer would likely indicate this by stating that the group who didn't use a list bought many more items than the group who used a list.

Thanks so much again Jeff.

To clarify with B, it isn't strong enough on it's own to eradicate the possibility that both bought unnecessary items. Please confirm that not assuming that they did buy many unnecessary items would only come into play if this were much more difficult a question as in all the other AC's would not suffice, then we should not assume the above?

I am slightly confused otherwise as to whether this assumption would play any part in selecting a right answer in a scenario like this?

Thank you

[Dana D]

Hey Dancing,

Jeff's point here is that answer choice (B) doesn't tell us enough information to resolve the paradox - maybe the shoppers with lists also bought unnecessary items, maybe they didn't. What you do know is that both groups brought a "comprable number of items" - so, unnecessary or not doesn't matter. One group bought 20 things and one group bought 21 or some combination like that - the number of items is pretty similar, which is why there is a paradox here.

A good way to test if you have 'resolved' the paradox is to add in the answer choice and see if the stimulus makes sense now. By adding in answer choice (B) you can say that the list group bought 20 items and all were necesary and the non-list group bought 20 items that were all unnecessary but on sale for half off or less but spent more money.

This can't be the right answer becasue there's still a paradox here - how did the non-list group buy the same number of items on sale but spend more???

So you can see for yourself, the assumption or information in answer choice (B) is irrelevant in helping resolve the paradox.