Deck 2: Overview of the Research Process

Question 1

Which process provides a roadmap with directions for conducting a business research project?

A) decision-making process
B) business process
C) research tactical process
D) scientific method
E) business research process

Answer 1

E

Question 2

The phases of the business research process are _____.

A) formulation, execution, analytical, and debriefing
B) formulation, execution, and analytical
C) observation, discovery, develop hypotheses, analyses, conclusions
D) discovery, analysis, hypotheses
E) exploratory, descriptive, and causal

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The ______ phase of the business research process involves defining the substance and process of the research.

A) formulation
B) execution
C) analytical
D) discovery
E) theoretical

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The first task in the formulation phase of the business research process is to _____.

A) define the problem
B) confirm the need for the research
C) analyze data
D) select sampling method
E) develop questions and objectives

Question 5

All of the following are tasks in the formulation phase of the business research process EXCEPT _____.

A) define the problem
B) confirm the need for research
C) formulate research design
D) develop questions and objectives
E) select sampling method

Question 6

Dawn is studying the relationship between employee satisfaction and productivity. Before designing a research study, she will gather and read other studies that have examined the relationship between satisfaction and productivity. Dawn is conducting a(n) _____.

A) analytical search
B) empirical review
C) literature review
D) primary search
E) formulation review

Question 7

In the ______ phase of the business research process, the researcher is actively gathering information from the appropriate sources.

A) formulation
B) execution
C) analytical
D) discovery
E) theoretical

Question 8

What is the first step in the execution phase of the business research process?

A) specify hypotheses
B) code data
C) collect data
D) decide on sampling design
E) identify limitations

Question 9

All of the following are activities performed in the execution phase of the business research process EXCEPT _____.

A) select sampling method
B) design data collection forms
C) collect data
D) analyze data
E) code data

Question 10

Many research projects collect open-ended responses, such as questions asking consumers to describe emotions they felt during a recent shopping trip. Researchers must then review what consumers wrote and quantify this qualitative information in some way by looking for commonalities or patterns. This is an example of which task in the execution phase of the business research process?

A) refining data
B) analyzing data
C) formulating data
D) reviewing data
E) coding data

Question 11

The ________ phase of the business research process is where data are analyzed.

A) formulation
B) execution
C) analytical
D) discovery
E) theoretical

Question 12

Which type of studies involves identifying categories or themes in data, assigning findings to the appropriate category, specifying relationships, and in some instances testing hypotheses?

A) secondary studies
B) generalizable studies
C) quantitative studies
D) qualitative studies
E) refined studies

Question 13

Which type of studies generally tabulates and reports the data in diagrams and charts?

A) secondary studies
B) generalizable studies
C) quantitative studies
D) qualitative studies
E) refined studies

Question 14

The last task in the business research process is _____.

A) interpretation of results
B) analyzing data
C) storing data
D) identifying limitations
E) preparing the report

Question 15

_____ is a set of systematically related statements, including some law-like generalizations that can be tested empirically.

A) Competition
B) Analysis
C) Causality
D) Theory
E) Propositions

Question 16

Expectations of what will happen under specified circumstances that allow predictions of reality are known as _____.

A) qualitative data
B) quantitative data
C) law-like generalizations
D) hypotheses
E) experimental treatments

Question 17

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the role theory plays in the basic business research process?

A) Normative business decision rules are often theory based.
B) Theory seeks to explain and predict.
C) Theories provide key inputs into the research process.
D) Theory helps shape the questions and specific predictions as expressed in hypotheses.
E) Theories are complete in explaining observed phenomena.

Question 18

__________ explain what someone should do when faced with a situation described by a theory.

A) Exploratory analyses
B) Hypotheses
C) Normative decision rules
D) Descriptive theories
E) Causal theories

Question 19

The law of supply and demand suggests that quantity demanded of a good should increase as price decreases. That is, consumers should purchase more of a product if price is reduced. This is an example of a _____.

A) descriptive rule
B) rational decision rule
C) common rule
D) normative decision rule
E) behavioral decision rule

Question 20

Which of the following provides managers with normative decision rules related to the amount and timing of employee compensation?

A) rational behavior theory
B) attribution theory
C) behavioral learning theory
D) normative theory
E) proscriptive theory

Question 21

Descriptive theory _____.

A) explains what someone should do when faced with a situation described by a theory
B) simply describes the way things are
C) is tested by collecting subjective data
D) is tested using causal research
E) is highly subjective, making decisions based upon it risky

Question 22

Which of the following is based on explanation and prediction?

A) causal theory
B) rational decision making
C) normative behavior
D) behavioral learning theory
E) normative decision making

Question 23

The Google search engine is based on _____.

A) intuition
B) causal analyses
C) descriptive theory
D) normative theory
E) mathematical theory

Question 24

The _______ is the approach researchers use to gain knowledge about some definable subject.

A) research method
B) scientific method
C) Socratic method
D) hypothetical method
E) theoretical method

Question 25

The three stages together that describe the process of discovery in the scientific method are _____.

A) formulation, execution, and analytical
B) observation, formulation, and discovery
C) data collection, analyses, and conclusions
D) developing hypotheses, data collection, and analyses
E) observation, discovery, and developing hypotheses

Question 26

A _____ poses an issue of interest to the researcher and is related to the specific decision faced by the company.

A) hypothesis
B) theory
C) data point
D) research question
E) decision process

Question 27

"Why has our employee turnover increased?" is an example of a research _____.

A) generalization
B) question
C) hypothesis
D) inquiry
E) proposition

Question 28

A _____ is a formal statement of some unproven supposition that tentatively explains certain facts or phenomena.

A) research question
B) hypothesis
C) theory
D) data point
E) decision process

Question 29

The statement, "An advertisement containing an attractive spokesperson will result in more favorable attitudes toward the product advertised than an advertisement that does not contain an attractive spokesperson," is an example of a research _____.

A) theory
B) question
C) statement
D) hypothesis
E) generalization

Question 30

The scientific method, which is the basis of sound science, is characterized by all of the following characteristics EXCEPT _____.

A) empirical
B) replicable and objective
C) analytical
D) theory driven
E) intuitive

Question 31

One characteristic of research based on the scientific method is that it is empirical. This means that _____.

A) it is compared against reality
B) the results are independent of the researcher's opinion
C) it follows the principle of parsimony
D) it relies on an existing body of knowledge
E) that conclusions drawn from the results are based on logic

Question 32

One characteristic of research based on the scientific method is that it is replicable. This means that _____.

A) it is compared against reality
B) the results are independent of the researcher's opinion
C) it is based on the principle of parsimony
D) it relies on an existing body of knowledge
E) that conclusions drawn from the results are based on logic

Question 33

One characteristic of research based on the scientific method is that it is analytical. This means that _____.

A) it is compared against reality
B) the results are independent of the researcher's opinion
C) empirical facts are chosen, specified, and measured in a way that will address research questions
D) it relies on an existing body of knowledge
E) conclusions drawn from the results are based on logic

Question 34

One characteristic of research based on the scientific method is that it is theory driven. This means that _____.

A) conclusions drawn from the results are based on logic
B) it is compared against reality
C) the results are independent of the researcher's opinion
D) it based on the principle of parsimony
E) it relies on an existing body of knowledge

Question 35

One characteristic of research based on the scientific method is that it is rigorous. This means that _____.

A) it is compared against reality
B) the results are independent of the researcher's opinion
C) it relies on the previous body of knowledge
D) conclusions drawn from the results are based on logic
E) every effort is made to minimize error

Question 36

The principle of _____ means that a simpler solution is better than a complex solution.

A) homeostasis
B) logic
C) parsimony
D) rigor
E) simplicity

Question 37

A _____ is a formal document summarizing what the problem is, how it will be investigated, how much the investigation will cost, and how long the research will take to complete.

A) research brief
B) research design
C) research hypothesis
D) research proposal
E) research report

Question 38

A research proposal does all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A) defines the problem
B) outlines the researchers' approach and methods
C) explains the results of the research
D) specifies the project's deliverables
E) includes a budget and time frame for completion

Question 39

Research proposals should contain _____.

A) research strategy and methods
B) schedule and budget
C) background information, specifying the events leading up to the request for the proposal
D) nature of the final report to be submitted
E) all of the above

Question 40

The first task in the business research process is to define the problem.

Question 41

A literature review is a cursory examination of the published and unpublished work from secondary data sources in the areas related to the problem.

Question 42

A unit of analysis is the individual survey respondent.

Question 43

Data is analyzed during the execution phase of the business research process.

Question 44

Normative decision rules suggest what an individual should do when faced with a specific situation that is described by a theory.

Question 45

Behavioral learning theory does not mean that changes in behavior are brought about as a result of conditioning or rewards and reinforcement for desirable behavior.

Question 46

Descriptive theory does not describe the way things are.

Question 47

Rational decision making is based on explanation and prediction.

Question 48

Research questions are formal statements of some unproven supposition that tentatively explains certain facts and phenomena.

Question 49

Parsimony means that a simpler solution is not the best one.

Question 50

A research proposal is an informal document that summarizes what the problem is, how it will be investigated, how long it will take to complete, how much it will cost and who will be investigating the problem.

Question 51

Research proposals are not very detailed.

Question 52

Budget and timeline to completion is never a part of the research proposal

Question 53

The problem statement, research objectives, research strategy and methods are significant portions of the research proposal.

Question 54

Qualifications of the researchers, project consultants and the research firm are included as part of a research proposal.

Question 55

Describe the three phases of the basic business research process? Explain each briefly.

Question 56

Explain the role of the literature review in the business research process.

Question 57

Describe the role theory plays in the basic business research process and discuss the problems that may arise.

Question 58

Describe and explain the concept of evidence based management.

Question 59

Compare and contrast a research question and a research hypothesis. Give an example of each.

Question 60

List and describe the six characteristics of research based on the scientific method.

Question 61

You just started working at a business research firm and have been requested to submit a research proposal for a client's research project. List the elements you should include in the research proposal and discuss the benefits it provides to both your firm and the client.