In the mid-1920s the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric

[mikrodj]

In the mid-1920s the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company was the scene of an intensive series of experiments that would investigate changes in working conditions as to their effects on workers' performance.

(A) that would investigate changes in working conditions as to their effects on workers' performance
(B) investigating the effects that changes in working conditions would have on workers' performance
(C) for investigating what the effects on workers' performance are that changes in working conditions would cause
(D) that investigated changes in working conditions' effects on workers' performance
(E) to investigate what the effects changes in working conditions would have on workers' performance

GMAT Prep question
OA is B

I think that investigating is modifying experiments, since we don't have a comma between both words.

To me the correct answer choice seems to say that "the experiments investigated something" Am I wrong?

I know that since the correct answer choice is B, the usage is acceptable, but I still have trouble understanding the meaning. Is it kind of idiomatic usage?

I thought that you normally run an experiment to investigate something rather than run an experiment investigating something.

Thank you in advance.

[mikrodj]

please delete this post. I wrote my questions in another thread of the same problem.

[RonPurewal]

I thought that you normally run an experiment to investigate something rather than run an experiment investigating something.

they're both acceptable, and, yes, you should consider this a takeaway regarding idiomatic usage.

i also answered you on the other thread.