Question 1

The extent of interference by the researcher with the normal flow of work at the workplace has a direct bearing on whether the study undertaken is causal or correlational.

Accepted Answer

The extent of interference by the researcher can affect the ability to establish a causal relationship between variables. If the study involves manipulating variables or introducing interventions, it may be causal. If the study simply observes existing relationships, it may be correlational.

Question 2

The goal of a ?_____________ study,hence,is to offer to the researcher a profile of the phenomena of interest from an individual,organizational,industry-oriented,or other perspective.
A)Exploratory.
B)Descriptive.
C)Causal.
D)Experimental.

Accepted Answer

A descriptive study aims to provide a profile or summary of a phenomenon of interest, such as a population, an organization, or an industry. This type of study is often used to describe the characteristics, behaviors, attitudes, or opinions of a group or to identify patterns or trends in a particular area of interest. Exploratory studies aim to explore new topics, concepts, or theories, while causal and experimental studies aim to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.

Question 3

A marketing manager is interested in tracing the pattern of sales of a particular product in four different regions of the country on a quarterly basis for the next 2 years.This is an example of a:
A)Cross-sectional study.
B)Longitudinal study.
C)Exploratory study.
D)Case study.

Accepted Answer

This is a longitudinal study as it involves observing the changes in sales of a product over a period of time (2 years) in four different regions of the country on a quarterly basis.

Question 4

Our research question determines the unit of analysis.

Accepted Answer

This is because the unit of analysis is the object, case or entity that is being studied in order to answer the research question. The research question guides the choice of the unit of analysis.

Question 5

Experimental designs invariably are longitudinal studies since data are collected both before and after a manipulation.

Accepted Answer

Experimental designs involve manipulating an independent variable and measuring the effect on a dependent variable. To establish cause-and-effect relationships, data is collected before the manipulation (pretest) and after the manipulation (posttest). Therefore, experimental designs are longitudinal studies.

Question 6

____________ studies are also necessary when some facts are known,but more information is needed for developing a viable theoretical framework.
A)Exploratory.
B)Descriptive.
C)Causal.
D)Experimental.

Accepted Answer

Exploratory studies are used when the researcher needs to gather more information to develop a theoretical framework. Descriptive, causal, and experimental studies are used when the researcher has already developed a theory or hypothesis to test.

Question 7

Whether a study is a causal or a correlational one depends on the type of research questions asked and how the problem is defined.

Accepted Answer

The type of study, whether causal or correlational, is dependent on the research questions and problem definition. Different research questions may call for different types of studies.

Question 8

Correlational studies are invariably conducted in contrived settings,whereas most rigorous causal studies are done in non-contrived lab settings.

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies can be conducted in any setting, whether it is a naturalistic setting or a contrived setting. On the other hand, causal studies can be conducted in both laboratory and naturalistic settings, but the rigor of the study depends on the quality of the research design and methodology, not the setting.

Question 9

Which of the following studies is a causal study? The researcher tries to find out:
A)What percentage of the population thinks commercials are annoying compared to 10 years ago.
B)Why unemployment in Europe is higher than in Asia.
C)If smoking is related to cancer.
D)All the above answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

A causal study aims to determine whether one variable causes or affects another. Option B seeks to understand the cause of higher unemployment in Europe compared to Asia, indicating a causal relationship.

Question 10

Which of the following is most suitable when there is little to no insight in a certain problem or when there is no information available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past?
A)Exploratory research.
B)Descriptive research.
C)Causal research.
D)Experimental research.

Accepted Answer

Exploratory research is the most suitable option when there is little to no insight in a certain problem or when there is no information available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past. Exploratory research aims to explore and gain a preliminary understanding of the problem or issue at hand, provide insights into possible solutions or research avenues, and generate hypotheses for further investigation. Descriptive research focuses on describing or analyzing a phenomenon, while causal research investigates the relationship between variables and attempts to establish cause-and-effect relationships. Experimental research involves manipulating variables and controlling conditions to test a hypothesis.

Question 11

A causal study is conducted in the natural environment of the organization with minimum interference by the researcher with the normal flow of work.

Accepted Answer

A causal study typically involves manipulation of variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships, which often requires more interference than observational studies.

Question 12

Knowledge of research design details also helps managers to study and intelligently comment on research proposals.

Accepted Answer

Knowledge of research design details is essential for managers to understand and evaluate research proposals. They need to be able to ask relevant questions and make informed decisions about whether research findings are trustworthy and relevant to their business needs.

Question 13

Studies,when data on the dependent variable are gathered at two or more points in time to answer the research question,are called:
A)Cross-sectional studies.
B)Longitudinal studies.
C)Exploratory studies.
D)Case studies.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies involve gathering data on the dependent variable at multiple points in time, allowing for analysis of changes over time. Cross-sectional studies gather data at one point in time, exploratory studies are typically used to generate initial insights, and case studies involve in-depth analysis of a specific case or individual.

Question 14

A marketing manager aims to investigate the relationship between customer satisfaction and store loyalty among British consumers.For this purpose,data will have to be collected from British stores and the 'unit of analysis' is the country.

Accepted Answer

The unit of analysis should be the individual customer, not the country.

Question 15

If a bank manager wants to analyze the relationship between interest rates and bank deposit patterns of clients,a 'field study' is the most suitable method of investigation.

Accepted Answer

A field study involves observing and collecting data in a natural setting, which would be appropriate to analyze the relationship between interest rates and client deposit patterns in a bank.

Question 16

In studies conducted to establish cause-and-effect relationships,the researcher tries to manipulate certain variables so as to study the effects of such manipulation on the dependent variable of interest.

Accepted Answer

Manipulating certain variables is a key component of experimental research, which is used to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables. By manipulating the independent variable and observing its effect on the dependent variable, researchers can determine whether changes in one variable directly cause changes in another.

Question 17

A bank manager wants to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between interest rate and the inducements it offers to clients to save and deposit money in the bank.What is the appropriate study setting?
A)A field study.
B)A field experiment.
C)A lab experiment.
D)None of the above.

Accepted Answer

A field experiment would be the best choice as it would allow the bank manager to manipulate the interest rates for different groups of clients and observe the effect it has on their savings and deposit behavior, while minimizing extraneous variables. A field study would only allow for observational data and may not establish a causal relationship, while a lab experiment would not capture the real-world conditions and behavior of the clients.

Question 18

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO)of a multinational corporation wants to know the profits made during the past 5 years by each of the subsidiaries in England,Germany,France,and Spain.It is possible that there are many regional offices of these subsidiaries in each of these countries.The profits of the various regional centers for each country have to be aggregated and the profits for each country for the past 5 years provided to the CFO.Hence,the 'unit of analysis' is the country.

Accepted Answer

The unit of analysis in this scenario is the country, as the profits of various regional centers for each country have to be aggregated to provide the profits for each country for the past 5 years.

Question 19

The unit of analysis refers to the level of aggregation of the data collected during the subsequent data analysis stage.

Accepted Answer

The unit of analysis refers to the level of aggregation of the data collected during the subsequent data analysis stage. It is the smallest unit that is being studied and analyzed in a research project.

Question 20

A study can be done in which data are gathered just once,perhaps over a period of days or weeks or months,in order to answer a research question.Such studies are called:
A)Cross-sectional studies.
B)Longitudinal studies.
C)Exploratory studies.
D)Case studies.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies gather data at a single point in time, providing a snapshot of the population being studied. They are commonly used in epidemiology, public health research, and social science research. In contrast, longitudinal studies follow individuals or groups over an extended period of time to track changes or trends, and case studies focus on one or a small number of individuals in depth. Exploratory studies refer to research that is conducted to gain a better understanding of a new or poorly understood phenomenon. Therefore, only cross-sectional studies fit with the described scenario.

Quiz 5: The Research Process: Elements of Research Design

The extent of interference by the researcher with the normal flow of work at the workplace has a direct bearing on whether the study undertaken is causal or correlational.

The goal of a ?_____________ study,hence,is to offer to the researcher a profile of the phenomena of interest from an individual,organizational,industry-oriented,or other perspective.

A marketing manager is interested in tracing the pattern of sales of a particular product in four different regions of the country on a quarterly basis for the next 2 years.This is an example of a:

Our research question determines the unit of analysis.

Experimental designs invariably are longitudinal studies since data are collected both before and after a manipulation.

____________ studies are also necessary when some facts are known,but more information is needed for developing a viable theoretical framework.

Whether a study is a causal or a correlational one depends on the type of research questions asked and how the problem is defined.

Correlational studies are invariably conducted in contrived settings,whereas most rigorous causal studies are done in non-contrived lab settings.

Which of the following studies is a causal study? The researcher tries to find out:

Which of the following is most suitable when there is little to no insight in a certain problem or when there is no information available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past?

A causal study is conducted in the natural environment of the organization with minimum interference by the researcher with the normal flow of work.

Knowledge of research design details also helps managers to study and intelligently comment on research proposals.

Studies,when data on the dependent variable are gathered at two or more points in time to answer the research question,are called:

A marketing manager aims to investigate the relationship between customer satisfaction and store loyalty among British consumers.For this purpose,data will have to be collected from British stores and the 'unit of analysis' is the country.

If a bank manager wants to analyze the relationship between interest rates and bank deposit patterns of clients,a 'field study' is the most suitable method of investigation.

In studies conducted to establish cause-and-effect relationships,the researcher tries to manipulate certain variables so as to study the effects of such manipulation on the dependent variable of interest.

A bank manager wants to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between interest rate and the inducements it offers to clients to save and deposit money in the bank.What is the appropriate study setting?

The unit of analysis refers to the level of aggregation of the data collected during the subsequent data analysis stage.

A study can be done in which data are gathered just once,perhaps over a period of days or weeks or months,in order to answer a research question.Such studies are called: