Deck 7: Data Gathering

Question 1

When selecting participants for focus groups, there is an advantage to utilizing ______ groups; these employees may share a similar background because they have something in common.

A) heterogeneous
B) homogeneous
C) random
D) purposeful

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When scheduling interviews regarding interpersonally sensitive topics, contact is best done via ______.

A) in person or phone.
B) e-mail.
C) electronic poll.
D) text message.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

______ are usually a small number of organizational members who are facilitated by a consultant who poses questions and then allows for group discussion.

A) Interviews
B) Focus groups
C) Observations
D) Unobtrusive measures

Answer 3

B

Question 4

______ is an intervention in itself, because it completes the picture of the organization and expands the knowledge for both the client and practitioner.

A) Contracting
B) Data gathering
C) Diagnosis
D) Feedback

Question 5

______ are those initial explanations of the situation that highlight symptoms of which the client is most painfully aware.

A) Presenting problems
B) Underlying problems
C) Interventions
D) Data gathering methods

Question 6

A practitioner can be more confident that enough people have been chosen when interviews begin to gather ______.

A) new information
B) relevant information
C) repetitive information
D) impractical information

Question 7

The benefit to ______ is you can collect data from a large group of participants at one time.

A) interviews
B) unobtrusive measures
C) observations
D) surveys/questionnaires

Question 8

What type of environment is best for interviews?

A) general public
B) in a frequently visited location
C) private location free from distraction
D) within the workplace where colleagues can overhear

Question 9

Historically speaking, ______ has been one of the most commonly used methods of data gathering.

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) observations

Question 10

Most OD interviews are ______.

A) formal
B) structured
C) semistructured
D) unstructured

Question 11

______ are described as the root cause or core, fundamental issues that are producing symptoms within the organization.

A) Presenting problems
B) Underlying problems
C) Interventions
D) Data gathering methods

Question 12

Given the nature of a global environment, which of the following is necessary when development surveys/questionnaires?

A) translate or localize questions
B) indicate a bias toward particular groups/regions
C) ask questions that can be answered multiple ways
D) do not define terms

Question 13

Avoiding ______ can be a challenge as part of focus groups because some participants may be reluctant to offer a different view, especially if members have a close relationship outside of the focus group.

A) mindshift
B) bias
C) assimilation
D) groupthink

Question 14

Which step in the data gathering process discusses the client or another representative explaining to organizational members what data are being gathered, by whom, using what methods, and for what purposes?

A) Determine approach to be used
B) Announce project
C) Prepare for data collection
D) Collect data

Question 15

Which of the following methods of data gathering allows the consultant to collect data on actual behavior rather than reports of people's behavior?

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) observations

Question 16

Information is ______ if no one other than the consultant will know what was said in the interview.

A) anonymous
B) confidential
C) shared
D) identifiable

Question 17

Data gathering through ______ relies heavily on cooperation form organizational members who will only open up to discuss serious issues if they trust the individual asking questions.

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 18

Most surveys use a combination of fixed-response and ______ questions.

A) closed-ended
B) open-ended
C) essay
D) ranking

Question 19

In data gathering, despite various warnings, unfortunately, ______ often trumps accurate data and careful diagnosis.

A) speed
B) consistency
C) bias
D) diligence

Question 20

Self-report data are always a reflection of past events, whereas ______collects data on what is happening in the present.

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) observation

Question 21

Secure locations, using pseudonyms, and destroying audio/video after transcription are examples of items to consider under which ethical issue?

A) collusion
B) misuse of data
C) informed consent
D) data protection

Question 22

Which type of unobtrusive measure could include articles in local newspapers, employee newsletters, or other forms of artifacts?

A) historical data
B) official documents
C) databases
D) online environment

Question 23

Architecture, break room area, and uniforms are all examples of which of the following unobtrusive measures?

A) historical data
B) online environment
C) formal physical environment
D) personal physical environment

Question 24

Difficulty in following up in depth on a single issue and the potential for a low response rate are two disadvantages to which data gathering method?

A) interviews
B) unobtrusive measures
C) focus groups
D) surveys/questionnaires

Question 25

High validity and can provide triangulation are two advantages of which of the following data gathering methods?

A) focus groups
B) surveys/questionnaires
C) observations
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 26

For example, a survey cannot be altered in design once it has been administered, which relates to which criteria when selecting data gathering methods?

A) access
B) flexibility
C) investment required
D) relevance to the problem

Question 27

Social media sites, wikis, and review sites are examples of which of the following unobtrusive measures?

A) historical data
B) official documents
C) online environment
D) physical environment

Question 28

Which of the following criteria when selecting a data gathering method discusses prone to bias?

A) access
B) relevance to the problem
C) accuracy
D) flexibility

Question 29

When a practitioner discloses who made a particular comment during an interview even after pledging to the respondent that comments would remain anonymous is an example of which ethical issue?

A) collusion
B) misuse of data
C) informed consent
D) data protection

Question 30

Employee bulletin boards and desk decorations are examples of which of the following unobtrusive measures?

A) official documents
B) historical data
C) formal physical environment
D) personal physical environment

Question 31

A few members dominating the discussion is a critical disadvantage of which data gathering method?

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) observations
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 32

Job descriptions, personnel fiels, or meeting minutes are examples of which of the following unobtrusive measures?

A) historical data
B) official documents
C) databases
D) online environment

Question 33

Architecture, signage, and design of work areas are examples of which of the following unobtrusive measures?

A) historical data
B) databases
C) official documents
D) physical environment

Question 34

Potential for little preparation and the opportunity to be "in the moment" are advantages to which data gathering method?

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) observations

Question 35

Typically takes a short amount of time and allows a broad range of topics to be addressed are two advantages of which of the following data gathering methods?

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 36

Observations are likely to alter the circumstances and potentially change the behavior of those being observed, often referred to as ______.

A) groupthink
B) the Hawthorne Effect
C) Small Group Polarization.
D) the Placebo Effect

Question 37

The potential expense, time and data intensive, only provides one perspective, and time-consuming analysis are all disadvantages of which of the following data gathering methods?

A) interviews
B) focus groups
C) surveys/questionnaires
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 38

According to Argyris, ______ information is necessary for the client to learn and for the interventionist to help.

A) Useful
B) Specific
C) Valid
D) Detailed

Question 39

Which of the following criteria when selecting a data gathering method relates to potential cost in terms of money and time?

A) investment required
B) access
C) relevance to problem
D) accuracy

Question 40

Data gathering through the use of ______ is when data are generally readily available because they are produced during the ordinary course of organizational activity.

A) interviews
B) surveys/questionnaires
C) observations
D) unobtrusive measures

Question 41

An organizational survey that appears to promise change will only deepen or increase cynicism among members if nothing is done with the results.

Question 42

Outline the five-step approach to the data gathering process.

Question 43

OD practitioners should treat their own research practices and research practices with an organization differently with regard to informed consent.

Question 44

Discuss data gathering methods, including pros and cons of each.

Question 45

Identify ethical issues that are present with data gathering.

Question 46

Without greater detail and multiple perspectives regarding the nature and extent of the problem, the chosen interventions may target the wrong areas.

Question 47

Having a background in statistical analysis is not useful when working with surveys/questionnaires.

Question 48

When conducting focus groups, a process is utilized that is very similar to interviewing.

Question 49

Focus groups are typically deemed appropriate for very sensitive issues.

Question 50

Interviews are probably the most common method of data collection in OD.

Question 51

Interventions designed to address presenting problems but that do not address underlying problems are likely to still produce long-term results.

Question 52

What are three reasons that data gathering should be taken seriously?

Question 53

Discuss the criteria to be considered when choosing a data gathering strategy.

Question 54

Observations are extremely useful for studying unusual problems or infrequent interactions.

Question 55

Organizational policies that restrict use of personnel files is an example of an access criteria when selecting data gathering methods.