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In a study of the effect of color on productivity, 50 of 100 factory workers were moved from their drab workroom to a brightly colored workroom. Both these workers and the 50 who remained in the drab workroom increased their productivity, probably as a result of the interest taken by researchers in the work of both groups during the study.
Which of the following, if true, would cast most doubt upon the author’s interpretation of the study results given above?
(A) The 50 workers moved to the brightly colored room performed precisely the same manufacturing task as the workers who remained in the drab workroom. - eliminates alternative explanation - strengthen
(B) The drab workroom was designed to provide adequate space for at most 65 workers. - more work space for workers in both workroom - possible alternative reason - weakens
(C) The 50 workers who moved to the brightly colored workroom were matched as closely as possible in age and level of training to the 50 workers who remained in the drab work-room. - eliminates alternative explanation - strengthen
(D) Nearly all the workers in both groups had volunteered to move to the brightly colored workroom. - not relevant
(E) Many of the workers who moved to the brightly colored workroom reported that they liked the drab workroom as well as or better than they liked the brightly colored workroom. - not relevant
B
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