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Q:
You should assume everyone who examines the evidence you present in your report will arrive at the same conclusion.
Q:
A ________ is a logical interpretation of the facts and other information in a report.
A) referendum
B) correlation
C) conclusion
D) recommendation
Q:
A ________ is an unbiased condensation of the information uncovered in your research.
A) problem statement
B) research summary
C) cause and effect analysis
D) primary collation
Q:
Applying the findings of your research can involve all of the following EXCEPT
A) summarizing your results.
B) making recommendations.
C) drawing conclusions based on your results.
D) developing a problem statement that defines your research.
Q:
Which of the following is one of the conditions that must be met for a conclusion to be valid?
A) It must appeal to the emotional needs of the reader.
B) It must be logical based on inductive or deductive reasoning.
C) It must include any unproven premises.
D) It must reflect your personal values as well as the organization's values.
E) It must indicate logical fallacies.
Q:
Which of the following should be included in the recommendations so the audience knows how to properly respond?
A) Information on others who have received the data from the report
B) References that can be used to verify information
C) An indication of how the recommendations where developed in order to show their validity
D) The next step to take to act on the recommendations
E) An interpretation of facts and other information from the report
Q:
How has social media influenced the use of knowledge management in organizations?
A) It is easier for more people to contribute and benefit from shared knowledge.
B) It is easier for non-experts to offer their opinions on policies and procedures.
C) It is more difficult to keep information confidential within the knowledge management system.
D) It has increased the use of collaborative recommendations.
E) It has improved the accuracy of statistics within documents.
Q:
Which of the following can be used to capture, store, and share information between members of the organization?
A) Social media
B) Conclusions
C) Statistical analysis
D) Citations
E) Knowledge management
Q:
The recommendations you make in a report should
A) interpret the results of your research.
B) not be limited by the report's conclusion.
C) tell audience members what they want to hear.
D) adequately describe the steps that come next.
E) identify areas of research that support your opinion.
Q:
Unlike conclusions, recommendations
A) suggest a clear course of action.
B) interpret evidence.
C) are always acceptable to readers.
D) always come at the end of the report.
E) are your opinion about findings from the research.
Q:
When drawing conclusions for a report, you should
A) introduce new information that wasn't discussed in the report.
B) avoid getting input from other members of your research team.
C) ignore information in the report that doesn't support your point of view.
D) interpret your research results logically, based strictly on the information in your report.
E) tell the reader exactly how to resolve the issue.
Q:
A ________ is a set of technologies, policies, and procedures that can allow a company to capture and share information throughout the organization.
A) process superstructure
B) desktop search protocol
C) cross-departmental interchange
D) knowledge management system
E) statistical analysis
Q:
A ________ is a logical interpretation of the facts and information in a report; a ________ is a suggested course of action.
A) recommendation; conclusion
B) problem statement; summary
C) conclusion; recommendation
D) trend analysis; synthesis
E) summary, conclusion
Q:
Which of the following must be used to make a recommendation credible?
A) Primary data
B) Knowledge management systems
C) Logical analysis and sound conclusions
D) Statistical analysis
E) Correlations between the recommendation and the data
Q:
Which of the following is an unbiased condensation of the information found during your research?
A) Causation
B) Summary
C) Conclusion
D) Recommendation
E) Data set
Q:
Discuss the difference between using the mean, median, and mode to determine statistical information.
Q:
How can you guard against mistakes and misinterpretations when using data sets?
Q:
Discuss ethical considerations when paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing the work of others.
Q:
The median value of a group is the sum of all the values in a series divided by the number of values in that group.
Q:
Paraphrases do not require documentation of sources.
Q:
When analyzing data, look for ________, which are definite patterns taking place over time, such as growth and decline.
A) trends
B) indexes
C) segues
D) smatterings
Q:
You can do all of the following EXCEPT ________ when you paraphrase material from a secondary source.
A) maintain a consistent tone
B) minimize the choppy feel of too many quotations
C) avoid giving credit to the originator of the information
D) present information with vocabulary that's more familiar to your readers
Q:
To find out your company's average monthly utility bill over the last year, you would need to calculate the ________ of the last twelve bills.
A) mean
B) median
C) mode
D) highest
Q:
When should a writer use direct quotes?
A) The original language enhances the writer's argument
B) The writer is unsure of the meaning of the original language
C) The original language can easily be presented in the writer's own words
D) The writer wants a consistent tone
E) The writer wants to use words and phrases the audience will be familiar with
Q:
Which of the following is the cause-and-effect linkage between two factors, where one factor is the result of the other?
A) Correlation
B) Cross-tabulation
C) Causation
D) Comparison
E) Trends
Q:
Which of the following can be done to help minimize analysis errors in data sets?
A) Avoid faulty comparisons
B) Try to extract insights that justify the data
C) Use visuals to manipulate that data to support your argument
D) Use the data sets as a way to summarize
E) Use specific numbers from the data sets when determining averages
Q:
Because causation can be difficult to prove, what do researchers use to understand the relationships between subsets of data?
A) Trends
B) Mean averages
C) Correlations
D) Medians
E) Cross-tabulation
Q:
A ________ is a simultaneous change in two variables that you're measuring.
A) variance
B) divergence
C) correlation
D) breakout
E) causation
Q:
When analyzing numerical data, which of the following is shown by the mean average?
A) The midpoint in a series of numbers
B) The numerical pattern indicated by the data set
C) The number with the strongest cause-and-effect linkage
D) The number that most often occurs in the data set
E) The sum of all items divided by the number of items
Q:
________ means you reproduce the material exactly as you found it (giving full credit to the source).
A) Quoting
B) Channeling
C) Summarizing
D) Paraphrasing
E) Causation
Q:
To paraphrase effectively
A) avoid using any business language or jargon.
B) check your version against the original to make sure that you didn't alter the meaning.
C) make sure your version is the same length as or longer than the original.
D) use quotation marks.
E) use only the source material that supports your premise.
Q:
Unlike a summary, a paraphrase
A) restates the original material in your own words and with your own sentence structures.
B) presents the gist of the original material in fewer words by eliminating some of the original words.
C) does not require complete documentation of sources.
D) is never acceptable in business documents.
E) introduces a new, but related topic.
Q:
Researchers, who are analyzing numeric data, look for ________ to identify patterns that tend to repeat over time.
A) trends
B) causations
C) correlations
D) cross-differentiations
E) means
Q:
Which of the following represents a correlation between two variables?
A) A cause-and-effect linkage between two factors
B) The sum of two items in a group
C) The relationship between subsets of data for each item
D) A simultaneous change in both variables
E) A definite pattern over time
Q:
Which of the following is the midpoint of a series of numbers, with equal number of items above and below that number?
A) Median
B) Correlation
C) Mode
D) Causation
E) Mean
Q:
Which of the following is one of the advantages of paraphrasing a secondary source instead of using a direct quote?
A) You can create a choppy feel in the writing
B) You can use vocabulary that the audience is more familiar with
C) You can mimic the tone of the original writer
D) You do not have to cite the source
E) You can more easily vary the tone of important sections
Q:
Which of the following is the process of reproducing material from a source exactly as you found it?
A) Summarizing
B) Analyzing
C) Paraphrasing
D) Concluding
E) Quoting
Q:
Explain important considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to conduct an interview face-to-face or via email.
Q:
Describe six strategies for producing surveys that are both valid and reliable.
Q:
Discuss the advantages of face-to-face interviews and focus groups.
Q:
What is the difference between a reliable survey and a valid survey?
Q:
When selecting people to participate in a survey, the most critical task is getting a representative sample.
Q:
A survey is considered valid if it measures what it was intended to measure.
Q:
The two most common primary research methods in the social sciences are
A) not appropriate for test marketing.
B) experiments and observations.
C) surveys and interviews.
D) test panels.
Q:
A survey is ________ if it produces identical results when repeated. A survey is ________ if it measures what it's intended to measure.
A) valid; reliable
B) reliable; utile
C) reliable; valid
D) valid; intentional
E) intentional; reliable
Q:
The answers you receive from a person you're interviewing will be influenced by
A) the types of questions you ask.
B) the way you ask your questions.
C) his or her cultural and language background.
D) all of the above.
Q:
When conducting an information interview, it is a good idea to
A) learn about the person you are interviewing ahead of time.
B) stick to using just one type of question.
C) save the most important questions for last.
D) avoid making an appointment, since you don't want the subject to think ahead about answers.
E) begin by asking for questions.
Q:
A disadvantage of using too many closed questions in an interview is that they
A) do not take full advantage of the interview format.
B) allow important information to be revealed too early in the interview.
C) diminish the interviewer's control over the interview.
D) require detailed responses.
E) become difficult to interpret.
Q:
Which of the following is a closed-ended question?
A) Would you rate the proposed expansion plan as likely to succeed or unlikely to succeed?
B) What do you see as the primary benefit of the proposed expansion plan for your family?
C) What corporate goals does the expansion help achieve?
D) How will the expansion affect day-to-day operations?
E) How do you think the client will react to the proposal?
Q:
People are more likely to respond to a questionnaire if
A) they can complete it within a short time.
B) you allow them plenty of time to research their answers.
C) the questions are open ended.
D) there is a reward for correct answers.
E) they can take it home and study the questions before answering.
Q:
An online survey is vulnerable to ________ because it captures only the opinions of those who visit the site and choose to complete the survey.
A) sampling bias
B) backchannel static
C) circular reasoning
D) transactional dysfunction
E) representative limits
Q:
When you're selecting people to participate in a survey, be sure to get a ________ of the population you want to survey.
A) stratified sample
B) representative sample
C) cross-sectional sample
D) small sample
E) cohesive sample
Q:
Ask ________ to solicit opinions, insights, and information; ask ________ to elicit yes or no answers.
A) indirect questions; direct questions
B) closed questions; open-ended questions
C) open-ended questions; closed questions
D) reflective questions; descriptive questions
E) indirect questions; open-ended questions
Q:
Which of these documents would NOT qualify as primary research?
A) A recent survey of your company's top clients
B) The most recent issue of a trade magazine in your industry
C) Notes from a conversation you recently had with a local government official
D) Your company's latest balance sheet
E) Data generated by other scientists
Q:
Primary research refers to
A) new research done specifically for your current project.
B) the evidence that stands out in your report.
C) the research you conduct first.
D) research that is fairly easy to conduct.
E) research that is conducted in a consistent manner every time.
Q:
Which of the following is a type of interview that allows a moderator to work through a series of discussion questions with a group?
A) Focus group
B) Cultural sampling
C) Observations
D) Experiments
E) Adaptive surveys
Q:
Which type of question is designed to solicit opinions and insights from the audience?
A) Leading
B) Open-ended
C) Compound
D) Closed
E) Ambiguous
Q:
Which of the following is the result of a survey that does NOT include equal samples of the overall population?
A) Representative sampling
B) Violation of the Fair Use doctrine
C) A reference management tool must be used
D) Sampling bias
E) Variation in quantitative information
Q:
Which of the following is an indication of the validity of a survey?
A) It measures what it intended to measure.
B) There are a sufficient number or representative participants.
C) Identical results are produced repeatedly.
D) A representative population sample is used.
E) The survey is adaptive.
Q:
Which of the following is an indication of the reliability of a survey?
A) Participants respond in a similar manner
B) There are a sufficient number of participants
C) Repeating the survey would produce identical results
D) A representative population sample is used
E) The survey is adaptive
Q:
Which of the following is one of the most common primary research methods for business writing?
A) Observations
B) Surveys
C) Research reports
D) Experiments
E) Databases
Q:
What are some criteria you can use in evaluating the credibility of an information source?
Q:
Briefly explain the difference between primary research and secondary research.
Q:
Identify the advantage to seeking help from a reference librarian when conducting research.
Q:
List the three major disadvantages of Internet search engines; then, briefly describe other electronic research tools that overcome those shortcomings.
Q:
Briefly explain the main difference between an Internet search engine and a web directory.
Q:
When you're using a search engine to find information on the Internet, what illusion should you be aware of?
Q:
Briefly explain the difference between trade journals and academic journals.
Q:
When using the Internet to conduct research, you can be reasonably sure that any information you find will be accurate.
Q:
All important research information is now available online.
Q:
The Statistical Abstract of the United States provides access to more than 750 periodicals and newsletters that focus on specific trades or industries.
Q:
________ covers the expression of creative ideas such as documents, web content, movies, musical compositions, lectures, and computer programs.
B) Trademark theory
C) Patent protection
D) Free-market case law
E) In-text citation use
Answer: A
Q:
A ________ lets you search the Internet by asking questions in normal, everyday English.
A) code snippet
B) metro-search engine
C) colloquial paradigm
D) natural language search
E) metasearch
Q:
Within the context of statistical analysis, the ________ is the "middle of the road" or the midpoint of a series.
A) common denominator
B) mean
C) median
D) medium
E) average
Q:
________ scan millions of websites to identify individual webpages that contain a specific word or phrase and then attempt to rank the results from most useful to least useful.
A) General-purpose search engines
B) Category tagging sites
C) Mobile content managers
D) Multipurpose web portals
E) Database sites
Q:
You're preforming ________ when you consult books, periodicals, online databases, and other research reports looking for research that was done previously for another purpose.
A) stealth research
B) secondary research
C) peripheral research
D) primary research
E) observational research
Q:
According to the fair use doctrine
A) plagiarism is not an issue in the business worldit is a problem only in schools and academic circles.
B) crediting sources is all that is necessary to avoid legal problems.
C) once material is made public, it no longer belongs to the author.
D) you can use other people's work only if you don't prevent them from benefiting as a result.
E) any information found in two or more places is considered public.
Q:
You would not need to cite a source if you have
A) used a direct quotation of under 250 words from a book titled Modern Economics.
B) used a table from the 1985 Farmers' Almanac.
C) described, in your own words, a plan for organizing production lines, which appeared in a professional journal.
D) provided general knowledge about your topic.
E) paraphrased the outcome of experiment results discussed by the American Medical Association.
Q:
After you've developed a problem statement to define the problem or purpose of your research, your next step will involve
A) evaluating sources of information.
B) analyzing numerical data and textual information.
C) creating a knowledge manipulation system to categorize your research.
D) discovering the specific information gaps that your research must fill.
E) determining how to shape material to match your intended recommendations.
Q:
Unlike Internet search engines, online databases
A) can be accessed only from a library.
B) often provide access to various parts of the hidden Internet.
C) are rarely up to date.
D) do not require a subscription.
E) provide only peer-reviewed sources.