Question 1

Chapter 6 suggests that you do three things to prepare to conduct an interview. What is one of them?

Accepted Answer

Without knowing the specific context or

Question 2

Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What is one other characteristic that the chapter says you should look for in the information you use?

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of bias 
B)  well-known author 
C)  attractive design 
D)  conciseness 
A)  lack of bias 
B)  well-known author 
C)  attractive design 
D)  conciseness

Question 3

You are writing a report about technical methods used for desalination of seawater. Which of these resources is LEAST likely to provide the technical information you need?

Accepted Answer

A)  a website for professional water-treatment engineers 
B)  a book about industrial desalination 
C)  a discussion forum about ecology 
D)  a blog by a leading expert in desalination 
A)  a website for professional water-treatment engineers 
B)  a book about industrial desalination 
C)  a discussion forum about ecology 
D)  a blog by a leading expert in desalination

Question 4

Which statement about wikis is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can always be trusted to speak the truth. 
B)  The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction. 
C)  Wikis tend to represent a narrower spectrum of viewpoints than edited websites do. 
D)  Because a wiki's content is "crowd-sourced," wikis have better accountability than edited websites. 
A)  The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can always be trusted to speak the truth. 
B)  The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction. 
C)  Wikis tend to represent a narrower spectrum of viewpoints than edited websites do. 
D)  Because a wiki's content is "crowd-sourced," wikis have better accountability than edited websites.

Question 5

You are interviewing the mayor of your city for a report on the prospects for high-tech manufacturing there. Which of the following questions will be most effective in an interview?

Accepted Answer

A)  Are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies? 
B)  How well are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies? 
C)  How long have you been the mayor? 
D)  Do companies complain about the tax system here? 
A)  Are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies? 
B)  How well are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies? 
C)  How long have you been the mayor? 
D)  Do companies complain about the tax system here?

Question 6

A common problem in field research is that your presence as an observer might affect the behavior you are studying.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What kind of information about an author can help you determine if a source is reliable?

Accepted Answer

When evaluating the reliability of a sou

Question 8

A periodical index contains lists of citation information for journal and magazine articles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Chapter 6 recommends asking clear, focused, and open questions when conducting an interview. Which of the following is an example of a clear, focused, and open question?

Accepted Answer

A)  Do you agree with the federal government's stance on net neutrality? 
B)  In your opinion, what are the advantages of net neutrality? 
C)  What is the history of net neutrality? 
D)  How important is net neutrality? 
A)  Do you agree with the federal government's stance on net neutrality? 
B)  In your opinion, what are the advantages of net neutrality? 
C)  What is the history of net neutrality? 
D)  How important is net neutrality?

Question 10

Books are a common type of secondary research source. Chapter 6 identifies four other secondary research sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

Accepted Answer

A)  periodicals 
B)  newspapers 
C)  government documents 
D)  library catalogs 
A)  periodicals 
B)  newspapers 
C)  government documents 
D)  library catalogs

Question 11

According to Chapter 6, in which phase of the writing process is it best to conduct research?

Accepted Answer

A)  editing 
B)  revising 
C)  proofreading 
D)  planning 
A)  editing 
B)  revising 
C)  proofreading 
D)  planning

Question 12

Which of the following types of research is LEAST like field research?

Accepted Answer

A)  observations 
B)  inquiries 
C)  experiments 
D)  inspections 
A)  observations 
B)  inquiries 
C)  experiments 
D)  inspections

Question 13

Which source reflects the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America?

Accepted Answer

A)  an article in an encyclopedia 
B)  an article in a national newspaper 
C)  an article in a journal on geological research 
D)  an article in a journal on public policy 
A)  an article in an encyclopedia 
B)  an article in a national newspaper 
C)  an article in a journal on geological research 
D)  an article in a journal on public policy

Question 14

A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  How do you think electronic reports will change your job? 
B)  What is the future of paper? 
C)  Do you think having paperless reports is worth the effort required to learn the new software? 
D)  Why do you write reports? 
A)  How do you think electronic reports will change your job? 
B)  What is the future of paper? 
C)  Do you think having paperless reports is worth the effort required to learn the new software? 
D)  Why do you write reports?

Question 15

Primary research is the set of sources that you consult while you are in the document-planning stage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

According to Chapter 6, one disadvantage of a questionnaire is that you cannot be sure the respondents are representative of the population you want to study.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

"How will China's rapid industrial development affect the global energy market over the next decade?" is more likely to be a workplace research question than an academic research question.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which source is LEAST likely to be valuable when you have a question about new trends in the semiconductor industry?

Accepted Answer

A)  an encyclopedia 
B)  a journal article published this year 
C)  a blog written by an analyst who covers the semiconductor industry 
D)  the website for a semiconductor magazine 
A)  an encyclopedia 
B)  a journal article published this year 
C)  a blog written by an analyst who covers the semiconductor industry 
D)  the website for a semiconductor magazine

Question 19

When obtaining information on products and services from websites, discussion forums, and blogs, it is important not to assume that vendors' claims are accurate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Chapter 6 suggests that you do three things to prepare to conduct an interview. What is one of them?

Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What is one other characteristic that the chapter says you should look for in the information you use?

You are writing a report about technical methods used for desalination of seawater. Which of these resources is LEAST likely to provide the technical information you need?

Which statement about wikis is true?

You are interviewing the mayor of your city for a report on the prospects for high-tech manufacturing there. Which of the following questions will be most effective in an interview?

A common problem in field research is that your presence as an observer might affect the behavior you are studying.

What kind of information about an author can help you determine if a source is reliable?

A periodical index contains lists of citation information for journal and magazine articles.

Chapter 6 recommends asking clear, focused, and open questions when conducting an interview. Which of the following is an example of a clear, focused, and open question?

Books are a common type of secondary research source. Chapter 6 identifies four other secondary research sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

According to Chapter 6, in which phase of the writing process is it best to conduct research?

Which of the following types of research is LEAST like field research?

Which source reflects the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America?

A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?

Primary research is the set of sources that you consult while you are in the document-planning stage.

According to Chapter 6, one disadvantage of a questionnaire is that you cannot be sure the respondents are representative of the population you want to study.

"How will China's rapid industrial development affect the global energy market over the next decade?" is more likely to be a workplace research question than an academic research question.

Which source is LEAST likely to be valuable when you have a question about new trends in the semiconductor industry?

When obtaining information on products and services from websites, discussion forums, and blogs, it is important not to assume that vendors' claims are accurate.

Introduction to Technical Communication

Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

Writing Technical Documents

Writing Collaboratively

Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose

Organizing Your Information

Communicating Persuasively

Emphasizing Important Information

Writing Correct and Effective Sentences

Designing Print and Online Documents

Creating Graphics

Evaluating and Testing Technical Documents

Corresponding in Print and Online

Applying for a Job

Writing Proposals

Writing Informational Reports

Writing Recommendation Reports

Writing Lab Reports

Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions

Making Oral Presentations

Filters

Exam 6: Researching Your Subject

Chapter 6 suggests that you do three things to prepare to conduct an interview. What is one of them?

Chapter 6 advises researchers to look for information that is current. What is one other characteristic that the chapter says you should look for in the information you use?

You are writing a report about technical methods used for desalination of seawater. Which of these resources is LEAST likely to provide the technical information you need?

Which statement about wikis is true?

You are interviewing the mayor of your city for a report on the prospects for high-tech manufacturing there. Which of the following questions will be most effective in an interview?

A common problem in field research is that your presence as an observer might affect the behavior you are studying.

What kind of information about an author can help you determine if a source is reliable?

A periodical index contains lists of citation information for journal and magazine articles.

Chapter 6 recommends asking clear, focused, and open questions when conducting an interview. Which of the following is an example of a clear, focused, and open question?

Books are a common type of secondary research source. Chapter 6 identifies four other secondary research sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

According to Chapter 6, in which phase of the writing process is it best to conduct research?

Which of the following types of research is LEAST like field research?

Which source reflects the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America?

A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?

Primary research is the set of sources that you consult while you are in the document-planning stage.

According to Chapter 6, one disadvantage of a questionnaire is that you cannot be sure the respondents are representative of the population you want to study.

"How will China's rapid industrial development affect the global energy market over the next decade?" is more likely to be a workplace research question than an academic research question.

Which source is LEAST likely to be valuable when you have a question about new trends in the semiconductor industry?

When obtaining information on products and services from websites, discussion forums, and blogs, it is important not to assume that vendors' claims are accurate.

Introduction to Technical Communication

Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

Writing Technical Documents

Writing Collaboratively

Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose

Organizing Your Information

Communicating Persuasively

Emphasizing Important Information

Writing Correct and Effective Sentences

Designing Print and Online Documents

Creating Graphics

Evaluating and Testing Technical Documents

Corresponding in Print and Online

Applying for a Job

Writing Proposals

Writing Informational Reports

Writing Recommendation Reports

Writing Lab Reports

Writing Definitions, Descriptions, and Instructions

Making Oral Presentations

Filters