Line Much research has been devoted to investigating what motivates consumers to try new products. Previous consumer research suggests that both the price of a new product and the way it is advertised (5) affect consumers’ perceptions of the product’s performance risk (the possibility that the product will not function as consumers expect and/or will not provide the desired benefits). Some of this research has concluded that a relatively high price will reduce (10) a consumer’s perception of the performance risk associated with purchasing a particular product, while other studies have reported that price has little or no effect on perceived performance risk. These conflicting findings may simply be due to the nature (15) of product advertisements: a recent study indicates that the presentation of an advertised message has a marked effect on the relationship between price and perceived performance risk. Researchers have identified consumers’ perception (20) of the credibility of the source of an advertised message—i.e., the manufacturer—as another factor affecting perceived performance risk: one study found that the greater the source credibility, the lower the consumer’s perception of the risk of purchasing (25) an advertised new product. However, past research suggests that the relationship between source credibility and perceived performance risk may be more complex: source credibility may interact with price in a subtle way to affect consumers’ judgments (30) of the performance risk associated with an advertise product. 1 (Book Question: 415) 1. According to the passage, the studies referred to in line 12 reported which of the following about the effect of price on consumers’ perception of the performance risk associated with a new product? A. Although most consumers regard price as an important factor, their perception of the performance risk associated with a new product is ultimately determined by the manufacturer’s reputation. B. Price interacts with the presentation of an advertised message to affect perceived performance risk. C. Price does not significantly affect consumers’ perception of the performance risk associated with a new product. D. Consumers tend to regard price as more important than the manufacturer’s credibility when they are buying from that manufacturer for the first time. E. Consumers are generally less concerned about a new product’s performance risk when that product is relatively expensive. 2 (Book Question: 416) 2. The “past research” mentioned in line 25 suggests which of the following about perceived performance risk? A. The more expensive a new product is, the more likely consumers may be to credit advertised claims about that product. B. The more familiar consumers are with a particular manufacturer, the more willing they may be to assume some risk in the purchase of a new product being advertised by that manufacturer. C. Consumers’ perception of the performance risk associated with a new product being advertised may be influenced by an interplay between the product’s price and the manufacturer’s credibility. D. Consumers may be more likely to believe that a product will function as it is advertised to do when they have bought products from a particular manufacturer before. E. The price of a particular advertised product may have less impact than the manufacturer’s credibility on consumers’ assessment of the performance risk associated with that product. 3 (Book Question: 417) 3. The passage is primarily concerned with A. challenging the implications of previous research into why consumers try new products B. suggesting new marketing strategies for attracting consumers to new products C. reconciling two different views about the effect of price on consumers’ willingness to try new products D. describing a new approach to researching why consumers try new products E. discussing certain findings regarding why consumers try new products 4 (Book Question: 418) 4. Which of the following, if true, would most tend to weaken the conclusions drawn from “ some of this research ” (see line 8)? A. In a subsequent study, consumers who were asked to evaluate new products with relatively low prices had the same perception of the products’ performance risk as did consumers who were shown the same products priced more expensively. B. In a subsequent study, the quality of the advertising for the products that consumers perceived as having a lower performance risk was relatively high, while the quality of the advertising for the products that consumers perceived as having a higher performance risk was relatively poor. C. In a subsequent study, the products that consumers perceived as having a lower performance risk were priced higher than the highest priced products in the previous research. D. None of the consumers involved in this research had ever before bought products from the manufacturers involved in the research. E. Researchers found that the higher the source credibility for a product, the more consumers were willing to pay for it. OG 2019 ID's: RC00359-01 RC00359-03 RC00359-05 RC00359-06

Question 4 Looking at the exact wording of the question, notice we are trying to weaken the conclusions drawn from “some of this research.” Let's look at the relevant sentence from the passage: If we read this sentence very literally, we can draw the following conclusions: " Some of this research" has concluded that high price reduces perception of risk. "Other studies" have reported little or no effect. If the question wanted us to weaken the idea that price has little or no effect, it would have asked about "other studies." The fact that it specifically asks about " some of this research" indicates that we're trying to weaken only the first part. I hope that helps!

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Much research has been devoted to investigating what motivates consume

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GMATNinja

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23 Jun 2022, 09:03

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woohoo921

For question 476 (which of the following, if true, would most tend to weaken the conclusions drawn from "some of this research" (line 8)), I had a tough time with figuring out where to stop given that the sentence still continued past line 8 in which it then expressed a conflicting view in the same sentence.

How did you know/why did the GMAT expect you to know that "some of this research" just referred to "some of this research has concluded that a relatively high price will reduce a consumer's perception of the performance risk associated with purchasing a particular product" and to not incorporate what follows "while other studies have reported that price has little or no effect on perceived performance risk" ?

Thank you!

To decide which conclusions were drawn from "some of this research," we should read the sentence in line 8 as literally as we can. If we do that, we see that "some of this research" concluded that high price reduced perception of risk. On the other hand, "other studies" reported little effect.

Reading this as literally as possible, we see that "some of this research" refers only to the first conclusion. The second conclusion, by contrast, was drawn by "other studies." So we have two different points of view here. One point of view comes from "some of this research." The other point of view comes from "other studies."

Overall, it's important to determine not just what conclusions are drawn in a passage, but who is drawing them. And to do this, you'll want to read the sentences as literally as possible, focus on the exact words, and consider whose point of view is being presented.

I hope that helps a bit!

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woohoo921

GMATNinja
Thank you SO much!

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hi experts!
I don't think the answer choice A is correct in question 4. The customers mentioned in choice A are two different groups of people. I think the study in choice A is only effective if the customers evaluating the products at different prices are the same ones (variable control). But in that case, there's no correct answer...Am I overthinking this ??

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Question 4

Elodie00die

hi experts!

I don't think the answer choice A is correct in question 4. The customers mentioned in choice A are two different groups of people. I think the study in choice A is only effective if the customers evaluating the products at different prices are the same ones (variable control). But in that case, there's no correct answer...Am I overthinking this ??

Question 4 asks us which answer choice "would most tend to weaken the conclusions drawn" from the research mentioned in the passage. This means that we don't have to PROVE that the research in the passage is garbage -- we just have to weaken it a bit.

You're right that (A) gives us an entirely new group of consumers involved in a new study. This new study did not find the same connection between price and perceived performance risk as did the research in the passage. This undermines the conclusion in the passage by showing that it doesn't always hold up in different studies.

Would it be a better weakener if the same consumers were used in both studies? Sure, you could argue that! It could make the link drawn in the passage even shakier. But we don't have that option on the table, as as you've mentioned, none of the other answer choices weaken the research in the passage at all.

We've got enough to choose (A) because it does weaken the conclusions of the research a bit.

I hope that helps!

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13 Jun 2023, 08:19

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wildhorn

Question 418 states which would “weaken the conclusions” as in plural conclusions referenced in line 8. Choice A definitely weekend the first conclusion. However the second conclusion in that line states that “studies have reported that price has little or no effect on perceived performance risk”. I don’t see how choice A weakens the second conclusion. Choice seems to be demonstrating exactly what the second conclusion states rather than weakening it.

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Hello Experts

This is exactly the same reason why I chose answer E. Can you please explain why are we considering only the first conclusion in the sentence while ignoring the second conclusion ?

Thanks

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Question 4

anish777

wildhorn

Looking at the exact wording of the question, notice we are trying to weaken the conclusions drawn from “some of this research.” Let's look at the relevant sentence from the passage:

Quote:

Some of this research has concluded that a relatively high price will reduce a consumer’s perception of the performance risk associated with purchasing a particular product, while other studies have reported that price has little or no effect on perceived performance risk.

If we read this sentence very literally, we can draw the following conclusions:

"Some of this research" has concluded that high price reduces perception of risk.
"Other studies" have reported little or no effect.

If the question wanted us to weaken the idea that price has little or no effect, it would have asked about "other studies." The fact that it specifically asks about "some of this research" indicates that we're trying to weaken only the first part.

I hope that helps!

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keats

Much research has been devoted to investigating
what motivates consumers to try new products.
Previous consumer research suggests that both the
price of a new product and the way it is advertised
affect consumers’ perceptions of the product’s
performance risk (the possibility that the product will
not function as consumers expect and/or will not
provide the desired benefits). Some of this research
has concluded that a relatively high price will reduce
a consumer’s perception of the performance risk
associated with purchasing a particular product,
while other studies have reported that price has little
or no effect on perceived performance risk. These
conflicting findings may simply be due to the nature
of product advertisements:a recent study indicates
that the presentation of an advertised message has a
marked effect on the relationship between price and
perceived performance risk.
Researchers have identified consumers’ perception
of the credibility of the source of an advertised
message—i.e., the manufacturer—as another factor
affecting perceived performance risk: one study
found that the greater the source credibility, the lower
the consumer’s perception of the risk of purchasing
an advertised new product. However, past research
suggests that the relationship between source
credibility and perceived performance risk may be
more complex: source credibility may interact with
price in a subtle way to affect consumers’ judgments
of the performance risk associated with an advertised
product.

_____________

**Can anyone please confirm if there is any opinion in this passage? I consider the highlighted part as an opinion by the passage JarvisR MBAPrepCoach @

This also confused me. I though Q3 was answer C does to the highlighted text...

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