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CHAPTER 3. The Research Process in Technical Communication
True/False Questions
1. A survey is an example of secondary research.
2. Subject directories are indexes of information that are maintained by
computer programs.
3. Sometimes the most reliable material resides in less attractive, text-only sites.
4. Commercial sites should not be used as reliable sources of information since
they are inherently biased.
5. Blogs can be sources of relevant and reliable information.
6. Questionnaires use closed-ended questions, not open-ended questions.
7. Direct observation is the surest way to eliminate bias in research.
8.
sources. Hard-copy sources are easier to preserve and keep secure than Web-based
9. Key words and search phrases should be as general as possible.
Fill-in-the-blank Questions
10. Dissertations and medical pamphlets are examples of literature.
11. Conducting
source.
12. A
content.
research means getting information directly from the
is a community encyclopedia that allows users to edit the
13. A large, identifiable group of people is called a
representatives of that group are called a population, while
.
14. An
assumption. is a controlled form of observation designed to verify an
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Multiple-choice Questions
15. Reference works include all of the following except
(a) encyclopedias.
(b) indexes.
(c) abstracts.
(d) conference papers.
(e) almanacs.
16. Thinking critically about research depends on all of the following except
(a) finding a definite answer.
(b) looking at the research from many viewpoints.
(c) achieving sufficient depth.
(d) asking the right questions.
(e) evaluating the reliability and completeness of sources.
17. Sources that explore topics at deeper levels include
(a) newspapers.
(b) tabloids.
(c) commercial Web sites.
(d) popular press.
(e) trade publications.
18. Informational interviews
(a) do not require a clear purpose statement because they are exploratory in nature.
(b) should avoid providing questions in advance to create a more spontaneous and
authentic reaction.
(c) should use open-ended questions instead of closed-ended questions.
(d) should always be recorded.
(e) should get the most sensitive questions out of the way from the start.
19. When creating a su
rvey,
(a)
phrase questions precisely.
(b) use loaded questions.
(c) keep it simple and brief.
(d) phrase questions precisely and use loaded questions
(e) phrase questions precisely as well as keep it simple and brief
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20. Web-based sources
(a) are always very reliable.
(b) can often be found in a hard-copy equivalent.
(c) are inefficient to research.
(d) are more current than hard-copy sources.
(e) All of these are correct.
21. Which of these statements about Web-based research is most accurate?
(a) The more design elements on a site, the more reliable the information there.
(b) Since Web sites are always accessible, you do not need to save any of the material
you find on them.
(c) No single search engine indexes everything on the Web.
(d) Web sites with the domains .gov and .edu will most likely not contain reliable
information.
(e) You may download anything from the Web and use it without permission.
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CHAPTER 3 ANSWER KEY