Q&A Hero

Q: The variable that is measured to determine the outcome of the research process is called the ______ variable.

Q: Income is an example of a(n) ______ variable.

Q: Anything that changes in value from one instance to another in a research study is called a(n) ______.

Q: A researcher is studying purchasing managers to determine how they decide to use credit in purchase situations for their companies. In this case, purchasing managers are the _____.

Q: _____ is an interview technique that tries to draw deeper and more elaborate explanations from a discussion with a decision maker.

Q: A preliminary study of background information that led up to the current situation is called a(n) ______.

Q: A(n) _____ occurs when there is a difference between the current conditions and a more preferable set of conditions.

Q: A _____ is a written expression of the key question(s) that a research user wishes to answer.

Q: "What is to be measured in this research study?" is a fundamental question to ask at the ______ stage of a research design.

Q: Tables placed in a research proposal that are exact representations of the actual tables that will show results in the final report but contain hypothetical results are called _____. A.dummy tables B.surrogate tables C.interim tables D.placeholder tables

Q: Sharon is a management professor who received a grant from the American Management Association to study how employees make decisions in cross-functional groups. Sharon's research is _____. A.applied business research B.dependent business research C.funded business research D.analytical business research

Q: _____ refers to basic research usually performed by academic researchers that is financially supported by some public or private institution, as in federal government grants. A.Philanthropic business research B.Priority business research C.Underwritten business research D.Funded business research

Q: Todd has prepared a document that includes the deliverables and a definition of the problem for a research client. In this document, he described how he will conduct a survey along with a schedule of costs and deadlines. What is this document called? A.research proposal B.research statement C.research blueprint D.managerial action statement

Q: A written statement of the research design is called a _____. A.research hypothesis B.research proposal C.research question D.research summary

Q: A statement such as: "If our new floor cleaner reaches a local market share of three percent after nine months of test marketing the product in Phoenix, we will launch the product nationally," is an example of a _____. A.hypothesis B.situation analysis C.managerial action standard D.problem definition

Q: A specific performance criterion upon which a decision can be based is called a(n) _____. A.managerial action standard B.managerial benchmark C.unit of analysis D.standardized variable

Q: A statement such as: "Increasing price five percent will cause sales to drop by eight percent or more," is an example of a _____. A.hypothesis B.dependent variable C.problem definition D.research objective

Q: Which of the following expresses the research objectives in terms of questions that can be addressed by research? A.situation analysis B.dependent variable C.research question D.independent variable

Q: In the statement: "Years of sales experience is an important variable in predicting unit sales performance," what type of variable is "years of experience"? A.dependent variable B.independent variable C.categorical variable. D.classificatory variable

Q: A(n) _____ variable is one that is expected to influence the dependent variable in some way. A.primary B.interactive C.independent D.first-order

Q: In the statement: "Years of sales experience is an important predictor of dollar sales performance," what type of variable is "dollar sales performance"? A.dependent variable B.categorical variable C.classificatory variable D.independent variable

Q: A(n) _____ is a process outcome or a variable that is predicted and/or explained by other variables. A.primary variable B.absolute variable C.dependent variable D.independent variable

Q: What type of variable is "gender"? A.continuous variable B.primary variable C.dependent variable D.categorical variable

Q: Categorical variables are also called _____ variables. A.independent B.index C.dependent D.classificatory

Q: Which type of variable indicates membership in some group? A.continuous variable B.categorical variable C.lexicographic variable D.dependent variable

Q: What type of variable is "dollar sales volume"? A.continuous variable B.independent variable C.categorical variable D.classificatory variable

Q: A variable that can take on a range of values that correspond to some quantitative amount is called a _____. A.categorical variable B.continuous variable C.classificatory variable D.independent variable

Q: All of the following are types of variables EXCEPT _____. A.continuous B.categorical C.constant D.dependent

Q: Something that does not change from one instance to another is called a _____. A.hypothesis B.constant C.variable D.category

Q: A researcher is conducting an experiment in which different formats of a prospectus sent to prospective investors are manipulated. The format of the prospectus is considered to be a(n) _____. A.constant B.unit C.dependent variable D.variable

Q: In research, anything that varies or changes from one instance to another is called a _____. A.variable B.constant C.category D.classification

Q: Which of the following is a possible unit of analysis in a research study? A.an employee B.a sales region C.a zip code area D.all of these choices

Q: When a researcher determines what or who should provide the data and at what level of aggregation, he or she is determining the _____. A.hypotheses B.research questions C.analysis technique D.unit of analysis

Q: Which of the following essentially answers the question, "What information is needed to address this situation?" A.dependent variable B.independent variable C.research objectives D.research design

Q: Which of the following is the most important question a researcher can ask when using a probing technique? A.How does that make you feel? B.Why do you think that is so? C.What has changed? D.What does _____ make you think of?

Q: An interview technique that tries to draw deeper and more elaborate explanations from the discussion is called _____. A.probing B.peeling C.immersion D.ethnography

Q: A researcher is asking managers and line workers questions such as what type of problems they experience, where they are most likely to experience them, who is responsible for them, and how the problems get resolved. Asking these what, where, who, when, why, and how questions to get a better understanding of his client's business decision-making situation is an example of using _____. A.peeling techniques B.iceberg technique C.80/20 techniques D.interrogative techniques

Q: All of the following are helpful hints that can be useful in the interview process when attempting to understand the situation EXCEPT _____. A.develop hypotheses before conducting interviews B.develop many alternative decisions and problems C.think about possible solutions to the problem D.be open-minded

Q: A researcher is gathering background information to familiarize himself with his new client's business environment. He is analyzing marketplace conditions and conducting interviews with employees of the company. This researcher is conducting a _____. A.gap analysis B.pre-research analysis C.basic analysis D.situation analysis

Q: A(n) _____ involves the gathering of background information to familiarize researchers and managers with the decision-making environment. A.situation analysis B.exploratory review C.environmental scan D.preliminary analysis

Q: All of the following are steps in the problem-definition process EXCEPT _____. A.identify key problem(s) from symptoms B.determine the unit of analysis C.develop dummy tables D.determine relevant variables

Q: Which of the following is the LAST step of the problem definition process? A.write research questions and/or hypotheses B.determine the relevant variables C.determine the unit of analysis D.understand the background of the problem

Q: Once the researcher has identified the key symptoms and identified the key problem(s) from those symptoms, what is the next step the researcher will take in the problem-definition process? A.determine the unit of analysis B.write managerial decision statement and corresponding research objectives C.determine the relevant variables and how to measure them D.write research questions and/or research hypotheses

Q: Which of the following is the FIRST step of the problem definition process? A.determine the unit of analysis B.identify the problem C.identify key symptoms in the situation D.determine the relevant variables

Q: All of the following are gaps that represent problems EXCEPT _____. A.actual business performance is less than possible business performance B.actual business performance is greater than expected business performance C.actual business performance is worse than expected business performance D.expected business performance is greater than possible business performance

Q: Which of the following make defining problems more difficult? A.situation is recurring or routine B.a dramatic change occurs C.symptoms are scattered D.symptoms are consistent

Q: When a researcher defines and develops a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, he or she is involved in what process? A.hypotheses development B.research planning C.research process D.problem definition

Q: An IT manager of a hospital needs to know the information technology needs of the healthcare providers and office personnel, so he decides to have research conducted. When he writes a list of key questions that he wishes to answer through research, what is he creating? A.research proposal B.written report C.decision statement D.hypotheses

Q: A written expression of the key question(s) that a research user wishes to answer is referred to as a _____. A.problem definition B.decision statement C.research proposal D.hypothesis

Q: Tables placed in research proposals that are exact representations of the actual tables that will show results in the final report with the exception that the results are hypothetical (fictitious) are referred to as surrogate tables.

Q: Basic business research refers to research usually performed by academic researchers and supported by some public or private institution.

Q: A wise researcher will not agree to do a research job for which no written proposal exists.

Q: A research proposal is a written statement of the research design.

Q: The greater the number of research objectives, the better the research.

Q: Managerial benchmarks specify a performance criterion upon which a decision can be based.

Q: Research questions express the research objectives in terms of questions that can be addressed by research.

Q: An independent variable is a variable that is predicted and/or explained by other variables.

Q: An absolute variable is one that can take on a range of values that correspond to some quantitative amount.

Q: A point estimate is something that does not change.

Q: Sales, income, and age are examples of variables.

Q: The unit of analysis for a study indicates the level of significance that will be acceptable for acting on the results.

Q: The situation analysis ends once researchers have a clear idea of the managerial objectives from the research effort.

Q: Symptoms need to be translated into a problem and then a decision statement.

Q: Probing is an interview technique that tries to draw deeper and more elaborate explanations from a discussion.

Q: Interrogative techniques simply involve asking multiple what, where, who, when, why, and how questions.

Q: One of the best ways to identify the symptoms of a problem is to conduct a literature review.

Q: Conducting a situation analysis often requires exploratory research.

Q: The first step in the problem-definition process is to determine the unit of analysis.

Q: A problem occurs when there is a difference between the current conditions and a more preferable set of conditions.

Q: When a sudden change in the business situation takes place, it can be easier to define the problem.

Q: It is easier to define the problem in business situations that are not cyclical.

Q: The problem definition stage is the easiest stage of the research process.

Q: The term problem definition refers to the process of defining and developing a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objectives.

Q: A decision statement is a written expression of the key question(s) that a research user wishes to answer.

Q: Fund-raising under the guise of research is called _____.

Q: Selling under the guise of research is called _____.

Q: A session in which research subjects are fully informed and provided a chance to ask any questions that they may have about an experiment is called a(n) _____ session.

Q: _____ means that information involved in the research will not be shared with others.

Q: _____ is a term that reflects the degree to which one bases one's morality on moral standards.

Q: A(n) _____ refers to a situation in which one chooses from alternative courses of actions, each with different ethical implications.