Deck 1: The Role of Business Research

Question 1

The scientific method used by researchers is essentially the same process in social sciences, such as business, as it is in "hard" sciences, such as biology or physics.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

_____ is the application of the scientific method in searching for the truth about business phenomena.

A) Management
B) Business
C) Business Research
D) Science

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Pamela is testing the hypothesis that employees will be more productive working in offices painted with muted colors rather than bold colors. Pamela is conducting _____.

A) qualitative research
B) essential research
C) scientific deduction
D) business research

Answer 3

D

Question 4

When ideas can be stated in researchable terms, we reach the hypothesis stage of the scientific method.

Question 5

Research should be conducted regardless of how long it will take to perform.

Question 6

All of the following are important aspects of the business research process EXCEPT _____.

A) gathering information
B) idea and theory development
C) analyzing data
D) making results publicly available

Question 7

Communication technologies have impacted business research greatly.

Question 8

Developing and implementing a business strategy involves six stages.

Question 9

Business research can be directed toward an element of an organization's internal operations.

Question 10

The term "research" means "to search again."

Question 11

Research plays a more prominent role in product-oriented companies than in customer-oriented companies.

Question 12

Which of the following are the two types of business research based on the specificity of its purpose?

A) basic and applied
B) scientific and non-scientific
C) cross-sectional and qualitative
D) quantitative and secondary

Question 13

Business research is restricted to for-profit organizations.

Question 14

A business researcher needs to be subjective in order to provide accurate information.

Question 15

Conducting research to determine why consumers visit Starbucks is an example of basic business research.

Question 16

Business research is basically about conducting surveys.

Question 17

Researchers in different functional areas of a business differ in the respect that they typically use different research methods.

Question 18

The procedures and techniques used by applied researchers and basic researchers differ substantially.

Question 19

Which of the following is FALSE regarding business research?

A) Business research covers a wide range of phenomena.
B) Business research is not considered rigorous enough to apply the scientific method.
C) The purpose of business research is to provide knowledge to managers.
D) Business research can be directed toward an element of an organization's internal operations.

Question 20

Performance-monitoring research is primary used to evaluate employees.

Question 21

Consumer research conducted in the United States indicates that many consumers consider the country of origin when purchasing products, and consumers tend to prefer products that are made in the U.S.A. To determine if consumers in other countries are partial to their own country's products, what must be done before the empirical findings from the research conducted among U.S. consumers also exist and behave similarly in another culture?

A) reliability assessment
B) cultural cross-validation
C) benefit/cost analysis
D) cultural-monitoring research

Question 22

Wal-Mart is the low-cost leader in retail. This company achieves this success by prioritizing efficiency in its distribution process. Which business orientation is Wal-Mart exhibiting when it prioritizes efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain process (i.e., getting products into the stores) in making decisions?

A) production-orientated
B) product-oriented
C) marketing-oriented
D) technically-oriented

Question 23

All of the following are business orientations EXCEPT _____.

A) management-oriented
B) product-oriented
C) production-oriented
D) marketing-oriented

Question 24

A business professor is examining the relationship between age and ethical business behavior. The research is not being conducted for any specific business or even industry, but rather it is intended to better understand and predict this behavior across all aspects of business. This professor is conducting which type of business research?

A) basic business research
B) formal business research
C) applied business research
D) abstract business research

Question 25

When Target stores monitors the sales activities of its retail stores in order to detect any indication of dollar sales changes, this is an example of which type of research?

A) relationship marketing research
B) total quality management research
C) basic research
D) performance-monitoring research

Question 26

When conducting research internationally, it is important to _____ research results, which means the researcher verifies that the empirical findings from one culture also exist and behave similarly in another culture.

A) cross-validate
B) simulate
C) integrate
D) cross-analyze

Question 27

_____ is the formal, objective measurement and appraisal of the extent a given activity, project, or program has achieved its objectives or whether continuing programs are presently performing as projected.

A) Monitoring research
B) Performance research
C) Comprehensive research
D) Evaluation research

Question 28

A production-oriented firm focuses its research on _____.

A) customers
B) technicians and experts in the field
C) competitive forces outside of the organization
D) line employees, engineers, accountants, and other efficiency experts

Question 29

_____ is conducted to address a specific business decision for a specific firm or organization.

A) Basic business research
B) Qualitative business research
C) Quantitative business research
D) Applied business research

Question 30

When a manager is trying to decide whether a new product launch decision should be postponed until some additional research can be conducted, which of the following questions should this manager ask himself or herself?

A) Is the proposed research expenditure the best use of the available funds?
B) Will the information gained by business research improve the quality of the business decision enough to warrant the expenditure?
C) Will the payoff from the research be worth the dollar expenditures for research?
D) all of these choices

Question 31

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) requested research to determine if the financing option the company implemented for a new capital investment initiative achieved the objective of reducing the company's tax liability. Which type of research is appropriate for evaluating this course of action?

A) basic research
B) post-hoc research
C) evaluation research
D) financial research

Question 32

Which of the following is the first step in developing a business strategy?

A) analyzing firm performance
B) identifying problems or opportunities
C) selecting and implementing a course of action
D) diagnosing and assessing problems or opportunities

Question 33

A firm focusing more on how to provide value to customers than on the physical product or production process is embracing which business orientation?

A) marketing orientation
B) quality orientation
C) external orientation
D) value orientation

Question 34

Which of the following refers to the way researchers go about using knowledge and evidence to reach objective conclusions about the real world?

A) qualitative method
B) quantitative method
C) scientific method
D) primary method

Question 35

Campbell's Soup is considering launching a new gumbo product and is testing different recipes with consumers before full commercialization. What type of research is Campbell's using to determine which soup consumers will like the best?

A) secondary research
B) basic research
C) applied research
D) test research

Question 36

Which type of research tries to verify a theory or to learn more about a business concept and is not intended to solve a particular business problem?

A) performance-monitoring research
B) basic research
C) total quality management
D) the scientific method

Question 37

In general, the ______ important a decision is strategically to the organization, the ______ likely that research will be undertaken.

A) less; more
B) more; more
C) more; less
D) none of these choices

Question 38

Which of the following is the LAST step in developing and implementing a business strategy?

A) analyzing firm performance
B) evaluating the course of action
C) identifying problems or opportunities
D) diagnosing and assessing problems or opportunities

Question 39

When a manager decides not to do research because a decision needs to be made before the results of the study can be analyzed, this is an example of which aspect in the determination of the need for marketing research?

A) nature of the decision
B) time constraints
C) availability of the data
D) cost considerations

Question 40

All of the following are factors considered when deciding whether or not research is needed EXCEPT _____.

A) nature of the decision
B) availability of data
C) managerial experience
D) benefits versus costs

Question 41

A company that routinely assesses employee satisfaction to provide feedback for evaluation and control of the human relations function of the company is using _____ research.

Question 42

Explain the differences among a product-oriented firm, a production-oriented firm, and a marketing-oriented firm and the role business research plays in each.

Question 43

The application of the scientific method in searching for truth about business phenomena is known as ______.

Question 44

Discuss the factors that influence whether or not business research is needed.

Question 45

The two types of business research based on the specificity of its purpose are called basic and _____ research.

Question 46

A _____ orientation focuses more on how the firm provides value to customers than on the physical product.

Question 47

Discuss how business researchers apply the scientific method when conducting research.

Question 48

Discuss how businesses analyze strategic performance and the role performance-monitoring research performs in this function.

Question 49

Explain how business research contributes to business success.

Question 50

When empirical evidence from two different cultures suggests that people in one culture act in ways that are similar to people in a different culture, we say that this fact _____ the hypothesis that the two cultures are similar to one another.

Question 51

The formal, objective measurement and appraisal of the extent a given activity, project, or program has achieved its objectives is known as _____ research.

Question 52

Explain why business research, like all business activity, continues to change.

Question 53

Researchers conducting research to address a specific business decision for their business are conducting ______ research.

Question 54

Research that attempts to verify a theory but which is not intended to solve any specific business problem is known as ______ research.

Question 55

When a company focuses all of its efforts aimed at consumers based on its technical superiority in product design and features, this company is said to be _____ - oriented.

Question 56

Describe basic and applied business research and design an example of each.

Question 57

The first stage in the development and implementation of a business strategy is _____.

Question 58

The way researchers go about using knowledge and evidence to reach objective conclusions about the real world is known as the ______ method.