CHAPTER EIGHT
CONDUCTING RESEARCH
True-False
T F 1. Research for a speech does not always involve going to the library.
T F 2. A source that should not be mentioned in a speech may be noncredible, hearsay,
or “phantom.”
T F 3. According to the text, it is difficult for audiences to detect noncredible sources.
T F 4. Referring to specific sources during a speech is a disruptive practice that interferes
with the thought process of the listener.
T F 5. In primary sources, there is an intermediary standing between you and the
original source.
T F 6. College and university databases can be accessed through Google.
T F 7. Almanacs, yearbooks, and statistical publications contain numerical data on crime,
deaths, births, diseases, incomes, and budgets.
T F 8. For some topics, an old book could be more helpful than a more recent source.
T F 9. One expert interview is usually adequate for a 5 to 8 minute speech.
T F 10. Media collections in libraries are often appropriate places for conducting
substantive research.
T F 11. When conducting an interview, you should think of questions spontaneously and
avoid preparing them in advance.
T F 12. CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints, and InfoTrac College Edition are
considered to be library databases.
T F 13. You do not need to verify the credibility of information obtained from the
Internet.
T F 14. A combative interview style is often helpful in stimulating a wide range of
answers from an interviewee.
T F 15. Questions which generate short one word answers are some of the most
successful procedures to use during interviews with experts.
T F 16. According to the text, it is advisable to make verbal summaries during an
interview.
T F 17. An online catalog used to be called a card catalog.
T F 18. A blog is a type of library database.
T F 19. Secondary sources are not good research materials for speeches.
T F 20. A biography would be a good place to search for a potential speech topic.
T F 21. Dictionaries have no use in the speaker’s research process.
T F 22. Primary source materials are the only effective sources that can make a speech
credible.
T F 23. Collections of quotations can be helpful research tools.
T F 24. Magazines, periodicals, and newspapers tend to be printed materials that are not
good sources for research.
T F 25. Holding on to a viewpoint, even though it has been disproved by research, is a
mark of independence and effective critical evaluation.
T F 26. Documenting sources in a bibliography is only done in APA style and not in MLA
style.
T F 27. Thinking for yourself means coming to your own conclusions without any input
or help from anyone else.
T F 28. When considering documenting sources, CM stands for Critical Mention.
T F 29. When interviewing, if the interviewee introduces new information that is not on
your list of questions, you should let them go ahead and tell you all they want to
about that information because it will make the interview more interesting.
T F 30. Library databases are considered to be Internet sources.
T F 31. The online catalog and library databases include the same types of
information.
T F 32. Abstracts are brief summaries of periodical articles.
T F 33. Opposing Viewpoints is a database that includes full-text periodicals and
primary source documents on non-controversial topics.
T F 34. CQ Researcher is a database that explores a single “hot” issue in the news each
week.
T F 35. Newspapers take neutral stands on current issues because they are sold to the public
and must do so.
T F 36. College and university databases, much like databases in public libraries, can be
accessed by the general public.
T F 37. According to the text, public library databases are just as comprehensive as
college or university library databases.
T F 38. .gov indicates a “government” website, .edu indicates an “educational” website and
.com indicates a “common” or “community” website.
T F 39. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Roget’s International Thesaurus, and Webster’s
New International Dictionary can all be accessed online.
T F 40. You can find library databases such as InfoTrac and ProQuest through a Google
search.
T F 41. The textbook advises that your college or university library databases are some of
the first sources you should consult as you begin researching your topic.
T F 42. Rarely would a speaker wish to use institutional or organizational research as it is
always commercial and unreliable.
T F 43. A good source for information on laws that have been enacted would be legislative and
governmental research.
T F 44. Electronic encyclopedias such as Wikipedia are good sources for finding credible
information on speaking topics.
Multiple Choice
45. Which of the following comments does not accurately describe the Internet:
a. anyone can design a homepage
b. it can be a source of credible materials for a speech
c. materials need to be verified for reliability.
d. it is carefully controlled and regulated.
46. Which of the following statements represents the best method of citing a source in the
body of a speech?
a. “According to an article in CQ Researcher, Midwestern energy companies are
building new factories to convert corn into ethanol.”
b. A September 29, 2006 article titled, ‘Biofuels Boom,’ notes that midwestern energy
companies are building new factories to convert corn into ethanol.
c. A September 29, 2006 article titled, ‘Biofuels Boom,’ on page 22 notes that
midwestern energy companies are building new factories to convert corn into ethanol.
d. An article titled, ‘Biofuels Boom,’ in a September 2006 issue of CQ Researcher
notes that midwestern energy companies are building new factories to convert corn
into ethanol.
47. A newspaper that is considered to have a more liberal bias or slant to the news would
be
a. The Wall Street Journal
b. The Washington Post
c. The Christian Science Monitor
d. People Weekly
48. The trust an audience places in a speaker that what is being said is accurate is known
as
a. abstract
b. credibility.
c. likeability.
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
49. An “abstract” refers to
a. a complete word-for-word article.
b. a brief summary.
c. a brief lexicon or dictionary.
d. a biography of an author.
50. The text advises speakers against exclusive use of encyclopedias because
a. the information is not up-to-date.
b. they are not credible
c. they provide a quick overview of a subject.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
51. A source which a speaker could use to find statistical information concerning
automobile accidents would be the
a. Information Please Almanac
b. Encyclopaedia Britannica
c. Monthly Catalog of Government Publications
d. Collier’s Encyclopedia
52. A visual aid
a. can provide support for idea.
b. can include YouTube videos.
c. can include illustrations.
d. can include cartoons.
e. All of the above.
53. In order to find information about a court case, it is wise to not become intimidated,
but to use
a. database searches.
b. legal volumes in the library.
c. interviews.
d. None of the above.
54. According to the textbook, today’s online catalog’s contain
a. books
b. CDs
c. audiovisual materials
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
55. Which of the following is an Internet search engine?
a. Google
b. Academic Search Premier
c. CQ Researcher
d. Opposing Viewpoints in Context
56. The text advises speakers who want to find specific government-printed booklets and
pamphlets to explore
a. Yahoo!
b. Monthly Catalog of Government Publications
c. Google
d. None of the above
57. If an interview becomes sluggish or bogged down, the author advises the interviewer
to
a. conclude the interview early
b. ask more questions and make additional comments
c. give the individual more time to formulate answers
d. avoid interfering with the interview at all costs
58. A good source for investigating the daily proceedings of the U.S. Congress would be
a. The Congressional Index
b. The Congressional Record
c. The Christian Science Monitor
d. Monthly Catalog of Government Publications
59. If an individual you are interviewing gets off the topic under discussion, you should
a. gently bring the person back on track
b. interrupt the person and stop the irrelevant response
c. allow the interviewee to continue until he or she returns to the issue
d. glance at your watch, look out the window, and give other non-verbal signal
indicating that you are not listening.
60. The most reliable research about what people are doing about drunk driving
prevention would be obtained from
a. an article in the Reader’s Digest
b. a self-help book written by a formerly obese man
c. Mothers Against Drunk Driving
d. an article in the New England Journal of Medicine
61. To develop credibility in a speech, a speaker should use sources that are
a. respected.
b. reliable.
c. accurate.
d. relevant.
e. All of the above
62. A source that is created at the time an event occurred is which of the following?
a. Primary
b. Secondary
c. Tertiary
d. Not reliable
63. A speaker who decides to use secondary evidence as research for a speech on
earthquakes would
a. interview a victim of an earthquake
b. read an article written by a reporter who interviewed an earthquake victim
c. watch a Hollywood movie about tornadoes
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
64. Which of the following is NOT true about preparing for an interview?
a. You should do research.
b. You should call or email the interviewee.
c. Use a topic that the interviewee does not know so the interview will be “fresh.”
d. Double-check the interviewee’s credentials.
65. Which of the following website endings would be considered among the least
credible to reference in a speech?
a. .edu
b. .com
c. .gov
d. .org
66. On online personal journal in which an individual or group describes daily activities,
experiences, or opinions is known as a (n)
a. database
b. home page
c. uniform resource locator
d. blog
Fill in the Blank
69. The sense of confidence an audience develops when a speaker supports ideas with
71. A database that contains full texts periodicals on controversial topics is known as
products.
76. The act of stealing the writing or ideas of another and using them as your won
77. Collections of chapters, articles from periodicals, newspapers or journals are known
Short Answer
78. Identify five reference sources for a speech
79. Identify two major newspapers that may be accessed through ProQuest:
80. Identify two sources of biographies:
(Great Lives from History)
Essay Questions
81. You have selected new fuel-efficient hybrid automotive technologies as the topic for a
speech to inform and you have obtained a half-hour interview with the service manager of a local
car dealership to supply some of the information you need. Explain how you would prepare for
and conduct the interview to make maximum use of the service manager’s limited time.
Describe how you would refer to the interview as documentation in your speech.
82. Explain credibility and how we develop credibility as a speaker.
83. Explain how you would evaluate the credibility of a website.
84. Discuss the types of non-library sources which should be investigated by a speaker whose
topic is unemployment and lost health benefits.
85. If you were to present an informative speech on the topic, “Using the Internet as a Research
Tool,” what guidelines and cautions would you include to give listeners helpful advice?
86. If you were required to present a lecture to first year college students on the topic, “the
importance of critical thinking,” what ideas would you include in your presentation?
Online Chapter Quiz Questions
Chapter 8
Conducting Research
True False
1. The Wikipedia website is a good source to find credible information on a person, place, or
event.
2. Credibility refers to the trust an audience has in the reliability of the speaker’s words and
3. Secondary evidence is reported secondhand and is usually not reliable for speech research.
4. Databases are internet sources that can be searched by using Google.
5. URLs ending in .gov, .org. .com. and .net are considered to be reliable resources for speech
research.
Multiple Choice
6. If you encounter an abstract as you are researching a periodical for a speech, you have
obtained
a. a complete article
b. an article summary
c. a biography of an author
d. none of the above
7. An online personal journal is known as a(n)
a. database
b. url
c. blog
d. abstract
8. Which of the following is/are a search engine?
a. Google
b. Wikipedia
c. a database
d. all of the above
9. Which of the following is a resource for finding a quotation?
a. bartleby.com
b. Wikipedia.com
c. a database.com
d. all of the above
10. Which of the following would indicate that the credibility of a website might be
questionable?
a. product advertisements
b. errors in spelling and grammar
c. links to other sites that don’t work
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
Fill in the Blank
11. Online library references that can only be accessed through a library are
_________________.
12. Original, first-hand fact or experience is called __________________.
13. Maps, atlases and media are possible resources that are known as _____________
_______________.
14. URL endings of web addresses that tend to be more credible are ________ and ________.
15. http://www.britannica.com is the website of an online_______________________.
Answers
