Question 1

Descriptive research can be used to find out how a company should change its product or what kinds of potential customers it should appeal to.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

In causal research, the research questions and hypotheses are very specific.

Accepted Answer

In causal research, the research questions and hypotheses are very specific and focused on determining cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

Question 3

A researcher should only use a secondary source after all primary sources have been exhausted.

Accepted Answer

Secondary sources can provide context, analysis, and interpretation that are valuable from the beginning of the research process, not just after primary sources have been exhausted. They can guide researchers to relevant primary sources and help frame their understanding of the topic.

Question 4

A single research approach is seldom perfectly suited to a research objective, and the best choice is often the approach with the greatest number of strengths and the fewest weaknesses.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. No research approach is flawless and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, choosing an approach with the greatest number of strengths and the fewest weaknesses is typically the best option.

Question 5

Without evidence of a relationship or an association between two variables, we would have no basis for even inferring that causality might be present.

Accepted Answer

Without evidence of a relationship or association between two variables, we cannot make any assumptions about a causal relationship between them.

Question 6

Tactical research decisions must be made before the research approach has been chosen.

Accepted Answer

Tactical research decisions, such as the specific methods of data collection and analysis, are made after the research approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) has been chosen, as the approach guides the selection of appropriate tactics.

Question 7

Exploratory research is characterized by research methods that are highly structured.

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research is actually characterized by research methods that are less structured, flexible, and open-ended in order to gather initial insights and ideas about a research topic. It is often used to generate hypotheses and help researchers define research questions for further study.

Question 8

Exploratory, descriptive, and causal research approaches differ in how precise their hypotheses are and in their data collection methods.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Exploratory research typically has less specific hypotheses and focuses on generating ideas and hypotheses for further research. Descriptive research aims to describe a phenomenon or group in detail and typically has more specific hypotheses. Causal research explicitly tests cause-and-effect relationships and often involves experimental designs to collect data. Additionally, each approach may utilize different data collection methods based on their research goals and hypotheses.

Question 9

Exploratory research may be useful in finding out what kinds of questions the respondents will be willing or able to answer.

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research is designed to explore and gain insights into a topic or issue, without trying to provide definitive answers. It is often used to identify potential barriers, challenges, or opportunities that may be encountered when conducting more focused research. By using exploratory research techniques, researchers can gather information on topics or issues that may be difficult to study directly, and use this information to refine subsequent research questions and methods. As part of this process, exploratory research may involve surveying potential respondents to determine what kinds of questions they would be willing or able to answer, and what types of information they would be most likely to provide.

Question 10

Probability sampling should be used whenever it is crucial to have a sample that is representative of the population being studied.

Accepted Answer

Probability sampling is the best method to ensure that the sample accurately represents the population being studied. This is important in statistical analysis because an unbiased sample is necessary to make valid inferences and generalize the findings to the larger population.

Question 11

In a probability sample, each member of the population has a known probability of being included in the sample.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a probability sample.

Question 12

Because different research methods serve different purposes, a researcher can get into difficulty by combining several methods in a single research study.For that reason, it is best to stick with one method.

Accepted Answer

It is not always best to stick with one method as sometimes combining different research methods can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research question. However, it is important to carefully consider the purpose, appropriateness, and feasibility of each method and how they will be integrated in the study.

Question 13

Descriptive research can be thought of as a snapshot of some aspect of the marketing environment at a particular point in time.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research is used to describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. It provides a snapshot of the current status or situation at a specific point in time. This helps marketers to better understand the market environment and make informed decisions. Hence, the statement is true.

Question 14

Descriptive research can isolate the cause in a cause-and-effect relationship.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive research is focused on describing a phenomenon or situation, and does not involve manipulating variables to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, it cannot isolate the cause in a cause-and-effect relationship. That is the goal of experimental research.

Question 15

The research objective, approach, and tactics should fit together. A researcher has an indication that the decision process is not going well when earlier decisions have to be modified because of subsequent decisions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The research objective, approach, and tactics should...

Question 16

The choice of research approach determines how the data will be obtained

Accepted Answer

The research approach is the overarching strategy that guides the collection and analysis of data, and it influences the methods and tools used to obtain the data. Therefore, the choice of research approach ultimately determines how the data will be obtained.

Question 17

A research design can be defined as the detailed blueprint used to guide the implementation of a research study towards the realization of its objectives.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A research design provides a framework for conducting a research study, outlining the methods, procedures, and strategies that will be used to collect and analyze data. It also helps ensure that the study is well-organized, focused, and has a clear direction towards achieving its research objectives.

Question 18

Asking experts their opinions and doing depth and focus-group interviews are examples of qualitative research.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative research is a method of inquiry that focuses on understanding people's experiences and perceptions, and typically involves in-depth interviews, focus groups, and observations. Therefore, asking experts for their opinions and conducting depth and focus-group interviews are examples of qualitative research methodologies.

Question 19

In exploratory research, hypotheses may be very vague or may not exist at all.

Accepted Answer

In exploratory research, the objective is to gather information, generate insights, and identify potential research questions or hypotheses. Hypotheses may not exist or may be very vague at this stage.

Question 20

The three research approaches - exploratory, descriptive, and causal--are often used to complement each other in a research study.

Accepted Answer

The three research approaches are often used together to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem or phenomenon. Exploratory research is used to gain insight and develop hypotheses, descriptive research is used to describe the characteristics of a population or phenomenon, and causal research is used to determine cause-and-effect relationships. By using all three approaches, researchers can gather rich and nuanced data that can inform theory and practice.

Quiz 4: Research Design and Implementation