Chapter 5
TRUE-FALSE
T F 1. In decision making, intelligence refers to the process of gathering information to
analyze the situation.
T F 2. Questions of value are unrelated in any way to questions of fact.
T F 3. It is usually best to phrase questions for a discussion in ways they can be answered
either yes or no.
T F 4. Data must be at least 25 years old to be classified as historical information.
T F 5. Questions of prediction can involve questions of fact, value, and policy.
T F 6. A secondary source of information is usually better than a primary source.
T F 7. Team members should avoid drawing from their own backgrounds and experiences
when researching a topic.
T F 8. A team should set guidelines for the form in which information will be shared with
members.
T F 9. Posting information for all members to see helps keep attention and focus when
presenting and discussing data.
T F 10. Visual aids help summarize information for team discussions.
T F 11. According to the authors, team members should avoid drawing from their own
backgrounds and experiences when researching a topic.
T F 12. A question of prediction often involves trying to foresee how a policy decision may
affect future facts and values.
T F 13. Values have no place in logical thinking.
T F 14. A genuine source of confusion for teams is when they don’t know what question they
are asking.
T F 15. Inquiry for a team’s work necessarily must exclude learning personal skills related to
the topic.
T F 16. The best way to start gathering information is for each member to randomly find what
she or he can on the general topic.
T F 17. Interviews with experts on a topic can provide excellent primary information for the
team.
T F 18. Any data you find on the Internet will be reliable and truthful.
T F 19. A major problem with information gathered on the net is information overload.
T F 20. Teams need to agree before they start, both on what areas each member will research
and on criteria for recording and presenting it to the team.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. “Should our college reduce aid to the athletic program?” is an example of a question of:
A. Fact
B. Value
2. “In what ways should the government ban those dangerous automatic assault rifles?”
violates which of the following guidelines for phrasing discussion questions?
A. One idea per question
E. None of the above
3. Which of the following statements describes why teams need to gather good information?
A. Faulty data can lead to faulty decisions.
B. Ideas and opinions should be related to facts.
C. Good information helps support report recommendations.
4. An interview with a resource person is most effective if you do which of the following:
A. Go without an appointment
B. Arrive late
5. Which of the following best describes a team’s research plan?
A. Once it has been completed, the team is probably finished gathering data.
6. If we adopt this policy, how much will it cost? is an example of a question of:
A. Fact
B. Value
7. A question containing the words should or ought is probably a question of
A. Fact
8. Which of the following statements is a good reason for posting information so the team can
see it?
A. Seeing the data while discussing it involves more than one sense and keeps listeners’
attention.
B. Posting data can make it clearer and more concise through charts, graphs, etc.
9. Which of the following is UNTRUE about computerized research?
C. You can reach experts on many subjects through their e-mail addresses.
D. All of the above
E. None of the above
10. An important element of an initial team plan is:
A. To make sure who does most of the work
B. Not to decide too quickly on guidelines for presenting information to the team
ESSAYS
1. For which type discussion question would a team probably need the greater information
(assuming the topic area is the same for both): a question of fact or a question of policy?
2. Identify the assumed and subsumed questions within the following question: “What should
the government do on behalf of the unfortunate victims of homelessness?” Label each question
you identify as fact, value, policy, or prediction. Then, indicate and label additional questions
that are within each question you identified. How could this analysis help prepare agendas for
discussing the topic?
3. Suppose your team is researching the question, “What are the five most important ethical
considerations in medical research today?” Design a plan for researching that question.