Monotonous Counting Exercise

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A number of college students were recruited by the psychology department to participate in a paid, unspecified experiment, which turned out to be a menial, monotonous counting exercise. Unbeknownst to the students, half of the participants were paid a meager rate for their participation, while half received a generous rate. After the counting exercise was complete, each student was asked questions on his or her perception of the counting exercise. Surprisingly, the participants who had been paid less reported higher levels of enjoyment in completing the exercise than the higher-paid participants did.

Which of the following hypotheses, if true, best accounts for the findings of the experiment?

Review: Monotonous Counting Exercise


Explanation

Reading the question: we read about the menial, monotonous counting exercise and learn that the participants who were paid less liked it more. How could this be possible? A prediction doesn't spring to mind. The key is that the correct answer will need to link 1) getting paid less with 2) higher levels of enjoyment. And it must do so without fighting any of the facts on the table.

Applying the filter: what answer choices do this? Most answer choices fail to connect to the first of the two parts, lower pay.In fact, (C) is the only answer choice that connects to points 1) and 2). Does it explain this situation? Yes: it gives a reason for unpaid individuals to state higher levels of enjoyment--exactly what we were looking for. The correct answer is (C).


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