BUS-X204 ch12

Select all that apply Because people use business reports to make high-stakes decisions, the research should be

-based on data gathered over weeks, months, or even years, if necessary. -thorough and careful.

Select all that apply What online sources are likely to provide quality information for business research?

-business and industry websites -online forums and discussions

Select all that apply Which of the following are resources for business research offered by most libraries?

-business periodicals -scholarly journals -online databases

Select all that apply Typically, numerical information is most effectively presented through which two of the following?

-charts -tables

Select all that apply Charts are useful for

-communicating numerical data. -presenting a memorable visual image. -presenting complex data in a simple format

Select all that apply To prevent personal biases from influencing research, you should

-consider the data from various viewpoints. -frequently evaluate whether you are being fair. -consider all available facts.

Select all that apply When planning a research-based business report, you should talk with decision makers to ______.

-determine what they expect from the report -find out what they want the research to accomplish -understand their main business goals

Select all that apply When deciding how much information to convey in a chart, the designer should

-include only what is needed. -plan to use labels to help readers understand the data quickly.

Select all that apply Who generally makes the request for research in the workplace?

-managers -clients

How long should it normally take for a reader to understand the key concepts depicted in a chart?

10 to 15 seconds

Which type of chart would be the best choice for showing the change in the amount of electricity consumed per capita in the United States since 1950?

A line chart

When presenting an audience with charts and tables and other numerical information, which of the following should be your primary concern?

Emphasizing the message that you want the audience to remember

Which of the following guidelines for various types of charts is correct?

The slices in a pie chart should complete a whole (add up to 100%).

Which of the following statements is true about leading questions in a survey?

They manipulate participants into responding in a preferred way.

What is the main concern when using white papers in research?

They tend to be biased.

True or false: A university library is an excellent resource when researching a business topic that requires access to expensive company and industry reports.

True

Select all that apply In which of the following ways can you define the scope of your research project?

-You can narrow the topic itself. -You can focus one specific period of time. -You can focus on one industry or organization.

Select all that apply To define research problems, the project's stated goals should be

-achievable. -specific. -targeted.

Select all that apply Survey questions should

-address only one idea. -not have a double meaning. -not take much effort to answer.

Select all that apply Scholarly business articles are seldom useful for researching problems in the workplace because they

-are hard to understand. -focus on theoretical and abstract issues.

Select all that apply For which two of the following situations would a chart be an effective way to present information?

-catching the attention of viewers and readers and drawing them into your message. -displaying complex numerical data in a way that is easy to grasp.

Select all that apply Primary research is the analysis of data collected by

-colleagues under your direction. -consultants under your direction. -you.

Select all that apply Personal biases sometimes cause a researcher to do which of the following?

-interpret data incorrectly -collect only data that supports the researcher's biases -ask the wrong questions

Select all that apply A survey would provide a relatively easy way to obtain information from which of the following groups?

-people who work for the same company as you do -people who participate in an online forum created a specific professional group -people who have purchased your product

Select all that apply Decision makers depend on business reports to

-recommend actions based on the data. -analyze the information properly. -provide the correct information.

Select all that apply Which factors should you consider when evaluating the quality of data from secondary research?

-reliability -adaptability -relevance

Select all that apply To develop primary research skills for business communications, you should study

-spreadsheet software. -statistical and quantitative analysis.

Select all that apply In general, a consumer research survey should

-take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. -contain fewer than 5 or 6 questions.

Select all that apply What is a chart's takeaway message?

-the key ideas that readers should remember after viewing the chart -the essential meaning conveyed by everything in the chart

Select all that apply If a survey question addresses more than one idea,

-the respondent is likely to become confused. -the results cannot be properly analyzed.

When creating a chart, you should consider the five most important elements, including

-the sufficiency of the information. -how easily a reader can process the information. -the descriptiveness of the title

Select all that apply Industry publications are

-usually very expensive. -often available at business libraries. -highly reliable.

Select all that apply While participating in a survey, most respondents

-want to answer without thinking very long. -want to finish quickly.

Select all that apply Data from secondary sources is probably not suitable for your business communication project if it

-was obviously compiled by someone with a biased perspective. -was gathered by people with questionable research skills. - -is not very relevant to the topic of your research

Select all that apply Labels and legends on a chart should indicate

-what units of measurement are depicted. -what is being measured.

Which of the following statements are true for most surveys?

The survey should be short.

Which of the following is the best choice for conveying a large amount of precise data?

a table

Which of the following would generally be the most reliable and relevant source of information for a business report?

industry publications

To ensure that a survey will produce useful results, the researcher should not include

leading questions.

If you start with a broad or vague topic for a project, during your early research you should

make it specific and interesting.

When a chart is being developed, the key component is

planning.

The ultimate proof of a chart's effectiveness is when readers

remember its core message for some time after viewing it.

Researchers have been using surveys more often recently because

surveys are now relatively easy to conduct online.

Roya's research topic is about the latest advancements in breast-cancer treatment. The best and most relevant way for Roya to make her research more analytical would be

to compare the success rates of new techniques versus older techniques.

True or false: An important way of developing survey research skills is by conducting actual surveys.

ture

In preparing a business report based on research, the first step is to ______.

understand what the decision makers want the report to do

What does survey research typically involve?

written questionnaires

Select all that apply When is it better to use a chart instead of a table?

-When the goal is to illustrate one main point or relationship -When there is a relatively small amount of information being shown

Select all that apply Which two of the following are the most effectively stated research objectives?

-Identify ways to provide advancement opportunities for our receptionists. -Determine why 80% of our hotel guests post negative reviews online.

SSelect all that apply What are two reasons why studying statistical analysis is useful in the field of business communication?

-It helps the researcher avoid skewing the results to accommodate preconceived ideas and biases. -It helps prevent inaccurate results during the analysis of survey data.

Select all that apply Which of the following are advantages of secondary research in preparing a business report?

-It provides access to more sources of information. -It is usually less time-consuming. -It usually costs less than primary research.

Select all that apply What are recommended practices for documenting your research sources?

-Make documentation records immediately rather than going back later to find sources again. -Record documentation systematically to avoid providing an incorrect source.

Select all that apply Which of the following are formatting guidelines for any kind of chart?

-Make sure all text is horizontal. -Avoid using many bright colors. -Avoid unusual fonts.

Select all that apply What are reasons that documenting sources of information for business reports is essential?

-People will be using the report to make high-stakes decisions. -Accurate and complete documentation establishes that the report is credible. -When you are writing the report, you might need to refer to the source document again.

Select all that apply Which statements about workplace research projects are true?

-Requests for research typically come from managers or clients. -You usually have some ability to define the scope of your research project. -Many companies have guidelines for using secondary research.

Select all that apply Which of the following statements about lengthy surveys are true?

-Respondents who are paid are more careful in completing them. -They commonly are left incomplete by impatient respondents.

Select all that apply Cindy has to write a research paper for a university class. Which of the following actions should she take during the planning process?

-She should consider writing down three to five research topics she is interested in. -She should choose a topic that will help her in her academic program.

Select all that apply Which of the following statements about numerical information in business are correct?

-Some management experts consider communicating with numbers to be a core competency. -Business operating expenses, budgets, and customer behavior are expressed with numbers.

Select all that apply Which of the following statements about business presentations using numerical data are generally true?

-The main message in such presentations will likely not be numerical. -Most audiences will not remember a lot of statistics.

Select all that apply What are some advantages of online surveys?

-The surveys can reach a very large number of respondents. -The data can be downloaded automatically into a spreadsheet. -They are generally readily available to survey responders.

Select all that apply Which of the following conditions are met when a chart provides readers with sufficient information?

-The units of measurement are clearly labeled. -Data values are provided at each point on the chart as needed. -Readers can quickly grasp the meaning of what the chart is showing.

Select all that apply What are common problems with using business periodicals as sources?

-They are not often applicable to specific problems and organizations. -They often include anecdotal evidence.

Select all that apply Which two of the following are reasons surveys should not include leading questions?

-They decrease the likelihood that respondents will answer t-ruthfully. -They produce unreliable data.

Select all that apply To be effective, what qualities should survey questions have?

-They should be non-leading. -They should be exhaustive.

Which survey question should be changed to allow for a simple answer?

How would you rate our food, conference rooms, and the recreational opportunities nearby?

Why should the following survey question for the customer of a bank be rewritten? "How satisfied were you with our customer service and the interest rate we offer? (very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat unsatisfied, very unsatisfied)"

It is asking about more than one idea.

Tiffany was given a research paper assignment in her class. She had two months to complete the assignment but was eager to get started. She picked her topic that afternoon, spent the next two days researching, then began writing. Which of the following should Tiffany have done?

She should have spent more time considering her options for a research topic.

What is the central element that makes a chart effective and interesting?

The message that the chart conveys

Which of the following statements about selecting a research topic is true?

You should spend adequate time exploring options before selecting your research topic.

Which type of chart is the most effective for illustrating trends and incidents over a period of time?

a line chart

What would be the best way to illustrate the percentage of cars manufactured by each U.S. automaker in 2012?

a pie chart

Which type of chart is the most effective for depicting various pieces within a whole?

a pie chart

What is a leading question?

a question that hints at an answer

A white paper is

a report on an issue by an organization, often with a specific agenda.

Secondary research is the analysis of data collected by

anyone who was not working under the direction of someone from your organization.

What is the most reliable source for most business research?

business databases and other materials at the library

Primary research is usually preferable in preparing a business report because it

can be customized to specific projects.

Gretchen's research topic is about the effectiveness of ads on Amazon. She decides to focus on how the ads affect sales and purchasing decisions. What type of analysis is Gretchen using?

causation

In creating a business chart, the most important consideration is the

chart's takeaway message.

Angela is a computer science major. Which of the following would therefore be the best topic for her to select for a college research paper?

cloud-based technologies