Deck 16: Reporting and Presenting Research

Question 1

Which is NOT a communication mechanism used by business researchers?

A) research proposal
B) statistics
C) written research report
D) oral presentation
E) all of these choices are communication mechanisms used by business researchers

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The primary role of the researcher is to _____.

A) place the decision maker in the best position to make an informed decision
B) impress the decision maker
C) impress the decision maker's superior
D) use the most complex method of analysis to address the research questions and/or hypotheses
E) take as long as possible to conduct the research to indicate dedication to the decision maker

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What type of audience is most likely to understand the technical aspects of the research methods and results?

A) elementary school teachers
B) scientists
C) restaurant owners
D) car dealership owners
E) all of these choices

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which principle implies that the researcher should gear written and oral communication to the level of the least sophisticate potential user in the audience?

A) bottom feeder principle
B) least among us principle
C) keep it short and simple principle
D) low hanging fruit principle
E) least common denominator principle

Question 5

All of the following are guidelines for technical writing EXCEPT _____.

A) front-end loading
B) keep it short and simple
C) goal orientation
D) use humor when possible
E) be graceful in ignorance

Question 6

_____ means placing as much as possible of the most important content in the first few pages of the report.

A) Executive summary
B) Front-end loading
C) Loading up
D) KISS
E) Organization

Question 7

What does "KISS" stand for with respect to guidelines for technical writing?

A) keep it simple stupid
B) keep it short and simple
C) keep it silly and sizzling
D) keep it stupid and simple
E) keep it short and stupid

Question 8

All of the following are true regarding technical writing EXCEPT _____.

A) shorter words work better than longer words
B) shorter sentences work better than longer ones
C) summarize information in tables and charts when possible
D) use few prepositions
E) use tables and charts sparingly

Question 9

One guideline for technical writing is to "Have Empathy." What does this mean?

A) keep it short and simple because people don't want to read that much about research
B) remember readers have varying abilities to understand technical information
C) remember the document has a clear goal or goals
D) avoid topics for which the report cannot shed any light
E) use a lot of headings and subheadings to break it up for readers

Question 10

One guideline for technical writing was titled "Be Graceful in Ignorance." What does this mean?

A) keep it short and simple
B) eliminate paragraphs, sentences, and words that are not necessary to complete a thought that helps build a case for the project
C) avoid topics for which the report cannot shed any light and spell out any limitations or shortcomings of the study
D) use a lot of headings and subheadings
E) remember that readers have varying abilities to understand technical information

Question 11

All of the following are sections of a research proposal EXCEPT _____.

A) background information
B) problem statement and research questions
C) qualifications of the researcher and research firm
D) final report outline
E) results

Question 12

Robert is developing the research proposal for a client and is describing the relevant business situation and the scope of the study. In which section of the research proposal does this information belong?

A) background information
B) problem statement and research questions
C) research strategy and methods
D) final report outline
E) budget and schedule

Question 13

Which section of the research proposal describes the research design to be used, the variables that must be measured, the data collection approach, data sources, how data will be collected, and the statistical techniques that will be used to analyze the data?

A) background information
B) problem statement and research questions
C) research strategy and methods
D) final report outline
E) qualifications

Question 14

The "Problem Statement and Research Questions" section of the research proposal _____.

A) describes the relevant business situation and the scope of the study
B) clearly defines the research problem, listing and describing the research questions and/or hypotheses to be addressed
C) describes how the study will be conducted
D) is a basic outline of the final report
E) is a breakdown of the expected costs of performing the research project

Question 15

Which section of a research proposal includes a breakdown of the expected costs of performing the research project along with a time frame within which the research is to be conducted?

A) background information
B) problem statement and research questions
C) research strategy and methods
D) final report outline
E) budget and schedule

Question 16

All EXCEPT which of the following are included in the title page of a written research report?

A) title of the project
B) principal decision maker for whom the research is being performed
C) date and names, affiliation, and contact information of the primary investigator(s)
D) key findings
E) all of these choices are included in the title page

Question 17

Where should the location of all exhibits, tables, and figures be listed in a written research report?

A) title page
B) table of contents
C) introduction
D) executive summary
E) results

Question 18

What is included in the executive summary of an applied business research report?

A) a statement of the purpose and key research questions
B) a brief description of the research design and related details
C) a summary of statistical results of testing research questions and/or hypotheses
D) a written interpretation of the findings framed as answers to the research questions
E) all of these choices

Question 19

How long should an executive summary to an applied business research report be?

A) 100-150 words
B) 500 words
C) half a page
D) 1-2 pages
E) 3 pages

Question 20

What section of the written research report describes the way the study was conducted, including a description of the sampling process and sample characteristics, and the procedures used to gather data, including a description of the measures?

A) introduction
B) research methods
C) results
D) recommendations and conclusions
E) appendices

Question 21

The findings addressing the research questions and hypotheses are placed in which section of a written research report?

A) research methods
B) results
C) recommendations and conclusions
D) discussion
E) introduction

Question 22

What section of the written research report begins by summarizing the results in everyday language?

A) introduction
B) research methods
C) results
D) recommendations and conclusions
E) appendices

Question 23

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding a basic research report compared to an applied research report?

A) they are exactly the same
B) the basic research report contains an abstract instead of an executive summary
C) an applied research report does not contain a research methods section
D) a basic research report does not contain a conclusions section
E) the applied research report contains a section on how the research is conceptualized, referred to as "Conceptual Background"

Question 24

How long should an abstract for a basic research report be?

A) one page
B) no more than two pages
C) 1000 words
D) 100-150 words
E) 500 words

Question 25

Which of the following is FALSE regarding presentation format?

A) There are many useful approaches for delivering a business research presentation.
B) Strictly oral presentations are fine as long as your audience is sophisticated.
C) Reading the report almost never makes a positive impact and gives the appearance of a lack of familiarity with the project.
D) Presenters may use slides and other visual aids.
E) Visual aids are helpful for both the presenter and the audience.

Question 26

All of the following are recommendations regarding oral presentations EXCEPT _____.

A) prepare your own slides
B) use humor when possible
C) vary the slide layouts
D) invite audience participation
E) don't sweat the small stuff

Question 27

Which of the following is a recommendation regarding oral presentations?

A) create a long title
B) use elaborate backgrounds so that audience members will stay interested
C) don't use all the time allowed because people will appreciate leaving early
D) use humor when possible
E) don't sweat the small stuff

Question 28

All of the following are recommendations regarding oral presentations EXCEPT:

A) prepare your own slides
B) don't use all the time allowed because people will appreciate your brevity
C) create an effective title
D) vary the slide layouts
E) invite audience participation

Question 29

All of the following are recommended ways to reduce presentation anxiety EXCEPT _____.

A) realize that everyone makes mistakes and that you will, too, probably
B) study your material
C) be confident
D) practice your presentation out loud
E) limit your public speaking if you're so anxious

Question 30

What is one way to overcome presentation anxiety?

A) don't make mistakes
B) take advantage of opportunities to do public speaking
C) use simple backgrounds that produce high contrasts so your audience won't look at you so much
D) write out your presentation completely and stick to reading what you have written down
E) do not invite audience participation so you won't get "off track" on your presentation

Question 31

The least common denominator principal refers to how short the presentation should be.

Question 32

The Keep it Short and Simple guideline includes the idea that short sentences are better than long ones. .

Question 33

Research proposals are instrumental in helping to have effective communication between the researcher and decision maker. .

Question 34

Written research reports should have an executive summary. .

Question 35

Executive summaries are the least read portion of the report.

Question 36

The research methods section of the report describes how the study was conducted. .

Question 37

Recommendations and conclusions are where the findings addressing research questions and hypotheses are presented.

Question 38

A basic research report is the same as an applied business report.

Question 39

Presentations should not be limited to reading only. .

Question 40

The best presentations are delivered without humor.

Question 41

Create a mock executive summary for a research report. Why is the executive summary so important?

Question 42

List and briefly describe the elements of a research proposal.

Question 43

List five presentation Dos and Don'ts.

Question 44

List and briefly describe the three communication mechanisms used by business researchers. Is one mechanism better than the other?

Question 45

Compare and contrast the outline for an applied business research report and a basic research report.