Researchers prepared three groups of resumes to send to employment agencies and directly to employers. For one group, each resume...
GMAT Graphics Interpretation : (GI) Questions
Researchers prepared three groups of resumes to send to employment agencies and directly to employers. For one group, each resume was sent with a smiling picture (that is, a picture in which the candidate was smiling). In another group, each resume was sent with a non-smiling picture (that is, a picture in which the candidate was not smiling). In the third group, each resume was sent with no picture. The resumes in the groups were otherwise identical. The graph shows the callback rates for these three groups.
For both employers and employment agencies, the group with no pictures had the highest callback rate, though the difference between the group with the highest callback rate and the group with the next-highest callback rate was greater for employment agencies. Among the two groups of resumes with pictures that were sent to employment agencies, the group with smiling pictures had a slightly higher callback rate.
Based on the information given, use the drop-down menus to describe how to assign labels to the graph.
Owning the Dataset
Table 1: Text Analysis
| Text Component | Literal Content | Simple Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Study Design | Researchers prepared three groups of resumes. | Three different resume types were created. |
| Group Differentiation | One group included a smiling picture, one included a non-smiling picture, and one had no picture. | The only variable was the presence and type of picture on the resume. |
| Control Variables | The resumes in the groups were otherwise identical. | All other resume features were held constant. |
| Recipients | Each group was sent to both employment agencies and directly to employers. | Resumes were sent via two different channels. |
| Measured Outcome | The graph shows the callback rates for these three groups. | Callback rate was the metric of interest. |
| Key Finding (No Photo) | For both employers and employment agencies, the group with no pictures had the highest callback rate. | Resumes without photos performed best overall. |
| Key Finding (Agencies) | The difference between the group with the highest callback rate and the next-highest was greater for employment agencies. | The gap in success was most pronounced for agencies. |
| Key Finding (Smiling) | Among resumes sent to employment agencies, the group with smiling pictures had a slightly higher callback rate. | With photos, smiling slightly helped at agencies compared to not smiling. |
Table 2: Chart Analysis
| Chart Feature | What It Shows | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Chart Type | Vertical bar chart with two groups of three bars each | Compares callback percentages across scenarios |
| Y-Axis | Percentage scale, \(\mathrm{0\%}\) to \(\mathrm{18\%}\) | Callback rate measure |
| X-Axis | Groups X, Y, and Z (left set and right set) | Same groups, two different recipient groups |
| Left Bar Set | X: \(\mathrm{9.2\%}\), Y: \(\mathrm{15.1\%}\), Z: \(\mathrm{15.7\%}\) | For first recipient group; Z is highest |
| Right Bar Set | X: \(\mathrm{13.9\%}\), Y: \(\mathrm{13.1\%}\), Z: \(\mathrm{16.9\%}\) | For second recipient group; Z is highest by more |
| Trend Observed | Z (no picture) outperforms both in both sets; X improves, Y falls in right set | No-picture resumes are most effective |
| Detail Observed | The advantage of Z is more pronounced in the right bar set (employment agencies) | Matches the textual findings |
Key Insights
- Resumes with no picture (Group Z) consistently receive the highest callback rates across both employers and employment agencies.
- The difference in callback rate between no-picture and picture resumes is much larger for employment agencies than for employers, indicating a stronger effect in agency settings.
- When comparing the two types of photos, resumes with a smiling picture (Group X) receive slightly higher callback rates than non-smiling (Group Y) when sent to employment agencies, while the reverse is true or minimal for direct employers.
- The experiment demonstrates that removing a photo gives applicants a measurable advantage across hiring channels.
Step-by-Step Solution
Question 1: Determining What the Right Set of Bars Represents
Complete Statement:
The set of three bars on the right represents resumes sent [BLANK 1].
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: set of three bars on the right
- Meaning: Refers to the three bars on the right side of the chart.
- Relation to Chart: The chart has two groupings of three bars each: a left set and a right set.
- Important Implications: We are asked to identify what kind of recipient the right set stands for.
- Key Phrase: set of three bars on the right
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: represents resumes sent
- Meaning: Indicates who received the resumes.
- Relation to Chart: Each set of bars corresponds to a category of recipient.
- Important Implications: Our options are: resumes sent to employment agencies or directly to employers.
- Key Phrase: represents resumes sent
- What is needed: Which group of recipients is shown by the right set of bars.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
We compare the differences in callback rates between the groups within each set, based on the information that the gap between the highest and next-highest callback rate is greater for employment agencies. - Necessary Data points:
Left set: \(\mathrm{15.7\%}\) (highest), \(\mathrm{15.1\%}\) (next highest); gap = \(\mathrm{0.6\%}\). Right set: \(\mathrm{16.9\%}\) (highest), \(\mathrm{13.9\%}\) (next highest); gap = \(\mathrm{3.0\%}\).- Calculations Estimations:
Gap in left set is \(\mathrm{0.6\%}\), gap in right set is \(\mathrm{3.0\%}\). - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Since employment agencies should have the larger gap, and the right set has a \(\mathrm{3.0\%}\) gap (larger than the left's \(\mathrm{0.6\%}\)), the right set represents resumes sent to employment agencies.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 1: to employment agencies
Question 2: Identifying the No-Picture Group
Complete Statement:
Group Z is the group that included [BLANK 2] pictures.
Breaking Down the Statement
- Statement Breakdown 1:
- Key Phrase: Group Z is the group that included
- Meaning: We need to determine what type of picture policy applies to Group Z.
- Relation to Chart: Groups X, Y, and Z correspond to different picture policies in both sets of bars.
- Key Phrase: Group Z is the group that included
- Statement Breakdown 2:
- Key Phrase: pictures
- Meaning: Refers to the picture policy for resumes: smiling, non-smiling, or no picture.
- Relation to Chart: Group Z's bars show the highest callback rate in both sets, suggesting a special picture policy.
- Key Phrase: pictures
- What is needed: Which picture policy (smiling, non-smiling, or no picture) is Group Z.
Solution:
- Condensed Solution Implementation:
The clue is that for both types of recipients, the no-picture group had the highest callback rates. We check which group has the highest bar in both sets. - Necessary Data points:
Group Z callback rates: \(\mathrm{15.7\%}\) (left set), \(\mathrm{16.9\%}\) (right set) — highest in both. Groups X and Y have consistently lower rates.- Calculations Estimations:
For both recipient types, Group Z is the highest, matching the description for the no-picture group. - Comparison to Answer Choices:
Group Z must be the group with no pictures.
- Calculations Estimations:
FINAL ANSWER Blank 2: no
Summary
Blank 1 is determined by comparing the gap between the highest and next-highest callback rates in each set; a larger gap points to employment agencies. Blank 2 is answered by matching the highest callback rates to the description that the no-picture group had the highest rates; this is Group Z in both sets.
Question Independence Analysis
The two questions are independent. Determining the recipient type for each set of bars does not affect the identification of the no-picture group, and vice versa.