Studies in restaurants show that the tips left by customers who pay their bill tend to be larger when the bill is presented with the server’s name hand-written on the bill. Psychologists hypothesize that simply seeing a handwritten name makes many consumers feel more of a personal identification with the server, encouraging larger tips.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the psychologists’ interpretation of the studies?
(A) The effect noted in the studies applies to patrons paying with either credit cards or cash.
(B) Nametags for servers have not been shown to have any effect on the size of the bill.
(C) Greeting card companies have found that charities which send holiday cards with and written signatures are more likely to receive donations than those which send cards with printed signatures.
(D) The studies indicated much larger average tips if the customer ordered alcoholic beverages with his or her meal.
(E) Many of the restaurants in which the studies were conducted are located in tourist areas, where people are traveling for leisure activities.
Solution (Posted on Nov 21st):
This argument concerns a potential explanation for larger tips on the part of restaurant patrons. The explanation provided is that customers are more generous toward servers that leave their hand-written name on the bill due to a greater degree of personal identification with the server, which encourages larger tips. The correct answer will either support the fact that a hand-written name strengthens personal identification, or that personal identification encourages
larger tips.
(A) The fact that the effect applies equally regardless of the method of payment is not relevant to the conclusion.
(B) The argument does not address the size of the bill; rather, it addresses the size of the tip. This choice is irrelevant.
(C) CORRECT. This answer choice provides further evidence that a handwritten name or signature generates a greater form of personalization and emotional connection among recipients, leading to more donations.
(D) The impact of alcoholic beverages on tipping behavior is irrelevant.
(E) The location of the restaurants and leisure pursuits of the patrons are
irrelevant to the argument.
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