87. The questionnaire has an advantage over other methods of collecting primary data because
a.
the anonymity of a questionnaire reduces the validity of some responses.
b.
obtaining a representative sample over a large geographical area can be expensive.
c.
the target audience has widely differing interests and education.
d.
respondents note their answers at the most convenient time for researchers.
e.
no interviewer is present to possibly bias the results.
88. What are two primary disadvantages of mail questionnaires?
a.
The mailing costs are high, and the response rate is low.
b.
The response rate may be low, and the respondents may not be representative of the
population.
c.
The mailing costs are high, and the validity may decrease because of the survey’s
anonymity.
d.
Completing the questionnaire may be inconvenient, and respondents may not be
representative of the population.
e.
An interviewer is usually present to bias the responses, and respondents may not be totally
honest.
89. When asking a question, a writer should maintain a list of overlapping questions that lead to:
a.
The audience’s understanding
b.
Well-rounded answers
c.
Putting the solution and the end of the report
d.
More questions
90. Mail questionnaires should not be used in which circumstances?
a.
The questions allow respondents to answer quickly and easily.
b.
The target audience is homogeneous.
c.
The researcher has one week to collect and analyze all data.
d.
The sample consists of people with similar interests and socioeconomic backgrounds.
e.
The questionnaire does not require complex responses.
91. Some types of raw data are:
a.
Surveys
b.
Copies of journal articles
c.
Completed reports
d.
Demographics
92. Which of the following statements is an accurate guideline for constructing questionnaires?
a.
Avoid multifaceted questions.
b.
Use straightforward, blunt wording to ask sensitive questions.
c.
Ask for information that is readily available from a variety of sources.
d.
Avoid questions that have exhaustive choices.
e.
Use neutral wording that suggests the desired answer to each question.
93. What term applies to categories of question alternatives that are independent of each other?
a.
hypothetical
b.
exhaustive
c.
mutually exclusive
d.
paired
e.
overlapping
94. What term applies to categories of question alternatives that cover all possible responses?
a.
hypothetical
b.
exhaustive
c.
mutually exclusive
d.
paired
e.
overlapping
95. To avoid the possibility of biasing responses to your questionnaire, you should
a.
include an “other” category as the first alternative.
b.
omit “other” from the listing of alternatives in most questions.
c.
use broad categories for all alternatives.
d.
recruit a homogeneous population of the sample.
e.
arrange alternatives alphabetically or in another logical order.
96. When asking respondents about their income, you should
a.
offer narrow categories of alternatives, such as “$20,000 to $22,000″ and “30,000 to
$32,000.”
b.
request a specific figure, rounded to the nearest $100.
c.
use interviewers who are trained in eliciting answers about sensitive topics.
d.
position this question at the end of the questionnaire, to avoid losing the cooperation of
respondents.
e.
offer broad categories of alternatives, such as “Less than $20,000” and “30,000 to
$40,000.”
97. Well-designed charts and graphs can
a.
look good in a report.
b.
emphasize certain data.
c.
give a sense of audience awareness.
d.
contain details.
98. The purpose of pilot-testing your questionnaire on a small sample is to
a.
verify that response choices are homogeneous.
b.
include sensitive questions where needed.
c.
indicate the reason for asking each question.
d.
be sure that all questions function as intended.
e.
learn what motivates respondents to participate.
99. A cover letter that accompanies a questionnaire should be written as a(n) ____ letter.
a.
request
b.
bad-news
c.
good-news
d.
persuasive
e.
informative
100. All of the following are reasons to use visual aids in business reports except:
a.
to convert raw data into meaningful facts.
b.
to help readers comprehend the information.
c.
to enhance reader interest.
d.
to show readers the meaning of the data.
e.
to provide the reader with insight.
101. Which statement correctly describes the use of tables in reports?
a.
Tables have more visual impact than graphs.
b.
The structure of a table makes comparison of numerical values more difficult.
c.
Tables are less interesting than narrative text.
d.
Readers can identify trends more easily from data in tables than from data in graphs.
e.
Tables can present numbers more efficiently than text.
102. The percent column in a table shows
a.
the percentage of each response, based on the total number of respondents who actually
answered this question.
b.
the percentage of each response, based on the total number of respondents, including those
who left the question blank.
c.
the cumulative percentage.
d.
the number of respondents who checked each alternative.
e.
the code used to identify each alternative.
103. Which of the following is not a good guideline for designing a table?
a.
Place footnotes for table data at the bottom of the page, not at the bottom of the table
body.
b.
Use common abbreviations and symbols where appropriate.
c.
Label each table with a number and a descriptive title.
d.
Insert headings on each column.
e.
Include a source note below the table if secondary data has been used.
104. Cross-tabulation is recommended when
a.
the responses you are tabulating are not complex.
b.
you prefer to use tables rather than explaining numerical values in narrative text.
c.
you used secondary sources and need footnotes to explain individual items in the table.
d.
you suspect you will find sizable differences between the responses of respondent
subgroups.
e.
you need to include percent, valid percent, and cumulative percent columns in a table.
105. When you simplify a table for your report, you should do all of the following except
a.
add a footnote to the table to inform readers when numbers are rounded up or down.
b.
round each percentage to its nearest whole when percentages total 100%.
c.
round down each number with a decimal less than 0.50.
d.
readjust every number in the table unless the total is 100%.
e.
round up an odd number with a decimal of 0.50.
106. When constructing charts for a business report, you should
a.
present all the data you gathered through research.
b.
include more charts to increase the impact of each one.
c.
avoid any common abbreviations and symbols.
d.
assume the reader will refer to the narrative text for explanations.
e.
keep charts simple enough to convey meaning immediately.
107. Identify the correct guideline for labeling or positioning charts or tables.
a.
Caption charts at either the top or the bottom, and caption tables at the top.
b.
Caption charts and tables at either the top or the bottom.
c.
Avoid common abbreviations in tables or charts.
d.
Use one numbering system for charts, tables, and all visual aids.
e.
Identify each type of chart using a separate numbering system.
108. If you want to report to readers to see the five-year trend in college enrollment, you should use:
a.
a pie chart showing the individual components of college enrollment.
b.
a comprehensive table supported by detailed explanations in the narrative text.
c.
a line chart to show the year-to–year change in enrollment during the period.
d.
a stacked bar chart captioned with secondary data about enrollment figures.
e.
a synthesis of enrollment figures.
109. A line chart would be appropriate to show
a.
major fluctuations in population over the past 50 years.
b.
the relative proportion of students choosing each major in the College of Business.
c.
steps to complete a computer program.
d.
geographic connections for a major airline.
e.
individual sales amounts for two pizza chains.
110. All of the following guidelines are appropriate for designing a bar chart except
a.
make the bars equal in width.
b.
stack the bars to show component parts of the variables.
c.
keep the spacing between bars equivalent to the width of one bar.
d.
arrange bars in a logical order.
e.
display the actual value represented by each bar if space permits.
111. The major drawback of a pie chart is its
a.
reliance on three-dimensional graphics to convey meaning.
b.
inability to portray components of a whole.
c.
complexity.
d.
lack of precision.
e.
lack of visual appeal.
112. Of the following statements about pie charts, which one is accurate?
a.
Pie charts are unpopular visual aids for business reports.
b.
To avoid any appearance of bias, you should not differentiate the individual wedges in a
pie chart.
c.
Pie charts are especially suited to showing more than six component parts.
d.
If you lump data into a miscellaneous category, that wedge should be located at the 12
o’clock position.
e.
Start slicing pie charts at the 12 o’clock position and move clockwise in logical order.
113. When you synthesize the data, you
a.
study each fact in isolation to draw valid conclusions.
b.
look at each fact in combination with another fact to see if the findings reinforce your
hypothesis.
c.
study all the facts you’ve gathered separately and in combination to see how they fit with
other findings.
d.
tally the number of responses for each item in a questionnaire.
e.
use cross-tabulation to edit the data for consistency and accuracy.
114. Which of the following is not a guideline for interpreting data?
a.
Eliminate unexpected findings and cross-tabulate data that raises questions.
b.
Look for trends, contradictory data, extreme values, and data that support or contradict
other findings.
c.
To help readers understand, identify and discuss the important implications of your data.
d.
You do not have to discuss all of the data in your report’s tables and charts.
e.
Help readers make a connection between the data in the charts and the solution to the
problem.
115. If you provide exact figures in your report’s charts and tables, you can ____ to avoid overwhelming the
reader with too much data too quickly.
a.
synthesize the data for other visual aids
b.
highlight only extreme findings
c.
include the same facts and figures in your narrative
d.
use less precise language in your narrative
e.
imply the reasons without stating them explicitly
116. By both presenting data and interpreting it in your report, you help the reader
a.
determine, through significance testing, whether differences exist in the general
population.
b.
avoid misusing the data in an unethical manner.
c.
synthesize the significance of the implications.
d.
understand the reliability of your secondary sources.
e.
reach the same conclusions you have reached.
117. When evaluating a source for credibility, search for
a.
The author’s biography (degrees earned, years of experience/research in their field of
study, published books, journals, articles about your topic)
b.
An Encyclopedia
c.
Newspapers
d.
Commercial websites
SHORT ANSWER
118. Discuss the four different elements of the definition of a business report.
119. List five places a writer may go to develop a working bibliography.
120. Why should you evaluate secondary data? What things should you look for when evaluating secondary
data?
121. List the five categories with which a writer may evaluate credible sources.
122. List five published examples of secondary data.
123. List the five ways a writer can evaluate source materials.
124. Give some three examples of visual aids and show how they improve comprehension.
125. What are the four main criteria for evaluating the quality of Internet resources? What are the basic
concepts for each criterion?
126. List two advantages and two disadvantages of questionnaires.
127. List at least four content guidelines to follow when writing a questionnaire.
128. List the three things a writer must do when constructing a questionnaire.
129. Define exhaustive and mutually exclusive in relation to questionnaires. What problems exist if a
question is not exhaustive or mutually exclusive?
130. What are some characteristics of the cover letter that accompanies a questionnaire?
131. What is a table and how can it be used to present data?
132. What is cross-tabulation and what does it enable a researcher to do? Provide an example of cross-
tabulation.
133. List four guidelines to consider when constructing a line chart.
134. What is the main purpose of (a) a line chart, (b) a bar chart, and (c) a pie chart? Provide an example of
an appropriate use of each type.
135. Describe the appropriate construction of a pie chart.
136. What is wrong with creating three-dimensional graphics?
137. What is data analysis? (Address the skill and time required.)
138. What are the ethical dilemmas that are emerging with the increase of technology? Provide an example.