Chapter 10Business Research and Report Writing

TRUE/FALSE
1. Formal reports use side headings; informal reports do not.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 297

2. Memo reports are written for an internal audience; letter reports may be written for either an internal or
an external audience.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 297

3. Standardizing the format of a technical report makes it easy for readers to scan the document for the
specific item(s) of interest to them.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 299

4. Research problems may be phrased as statements or questions.

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 301

5. Brainstorming and cluster diagramming can help researchers set the scope of a project.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: pp. 301-302

6. When setting the time schedule for a research project, work back from the deadline date.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 302

7. Research studies conducted by current employees using data obtained from the organizations files do
not need to have a budget.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 302

8. Research procedures vary from project to project.

ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 303

9. The standards for documenting information obtained from web sources are less rigid than the
standards for documenting print secondary sources.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 305

10. The primary receivers (readers) of a message must be analyzed; the secondary receivers need not be
analyzed.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 303

11. Face-to-face surveys can be costly, but they produce the most in-depth responses.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 306

12. Pilot testing or field testing a survey can help to identify questions that need to be reworded to improve
clarity.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 309

13. Focus group participants may be less open with their responses if they know they are being taped;
therefore, it is better not to tell them they are being recorded.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 310

14. The conclusions and recommendations sections of a report allow the researcher to infuse his or her
opinions into a report.
ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 312

15. The introduction of a report helps the reader understand the scope and sequence of the report.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p.315

16. The executive summary of a report emphasizes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
study.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 315

17. The guidelines and policies of an organization must be considered when deciding how to format a
formal report.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 317

18. All appendixes included with a report must be referred to within the body of the report.
ANS: T

PTS: 1

REF: p. 317

19. Headings must be parallel within and between levels.

ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 320

20. It is unnecessary to include a source citation for paraphrased material.

ANS: F

PTS: 1

REF: p. 321

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The formality of a report is
a. based on the culture of the writers organization.
b. based on the content.
c. determined by the preference of the writer.
d. determined by the receiver.
ANS: A

PTS: 1

REF: p. 297

2. Which of the following report types is also known as a status report?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Periodic
Progress
Technical
Unsolicited

ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 298

3. You start planning a research study by

a. determining the factors.
b. determining the solutions.
c. scheduling the study.
d. stating the problem.
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: p. 301

4. What is a Gantt chart?

a. A budget spreadsheet
b. A cluster diagram
c. A statistical analysis tool
d. A time schedule
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: p. 302

5. Buchan Molding manufactures plastic tubing used in various industries. Which of the following
represents the best way for Buchan to gather customer satisfaction data about the service received
during the lengthy, complicated transactions common in its business?
a. Conduct a telephone survey.
b. Send a comment card with the customers order.
c. Send a letter of inquiry.
d. Visit each customer personally.
ANS: A

PTS: 1

REF: p. 306

6. All but which of the following is a primary date source?

a. A personal interview
b. A website located through an Internet search
c. An observation
d. Company records
ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 306

7. Experiments
a. are used to identify a better way of doing things.
b. have high personnel costs.
c. represent a common business research method.
d. require less control than other business research methods.
ANS: A

PTS: 1

REF: pp, 310-311

8. The solution to a research problem is presented in the report as a part of the

a. Appendix.
b. Conclusions.
c. Findings.
d. Recommendations.
ANS: D

PTS: 1

REF: p. 312

9. If a formal report contains a comprehensive letter of transmittal, the report will not contain a/an
a. bibliography.
b. executive summary
c. introduction.
d. table of contents.
ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 315

10. Which of the following headings is NOT grammatically parallel to the others?
a. Fringe Benefits
b. Income Generated from Patents
c. Quarterly Dividends
d. Unanticipated Losses
ANS: B

PTS: 1

REF: p. 319

ESSAY
1. Describe how to arrive at a clear, accurate written statement of the problem for a research study.
ANS:
Prior to arriving at the statement of the problem, there may be discussions within the organization
about what the research should accomplish. A preliminary investigation of the situation that prompted
the research may be made to help define the problem. You may look at files, talk to employees, read
other similar reports, talk to vendors, or make any number of preliminary inquiries to help you clarify
what needs to be studied.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 301

2. List the five steps for conducting research.

ANS:
The five steps for conducting research are:
1. Plan the research
2. Gather information
3. Analyze the information
4. Determine the solution(s)
5. Write the report
PTS: 1

REF: p. 301

3. In what ways are brainstorming and cluster diagramming similar? In what ways are they different?
ANS:
Brainstorming and cluster diagramming are similar in that both (a) are useful in narrowing the scope of
a research project and (b) can be done individually or in a group.
The techniques are different in that brainstormed ideas are not evaluated or sequenced until after a list
has been developed. In cluster diagramming, ideas are grouped as they are introduced.
PTS: 1

REF: pp. 301-302

4. When your research plan includes gathering data from both primary and secondary sources, which
should be gathered first? Why?
ANS:
Secondary source information should be gathered first because it might contain good ideas about what
primary information should be gathered and how to collect it.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 304

5. Comment on the credibility of information obtained through online forums such as newsgroups, blogs,
and chatrooms.
ANS:
Although online forums may lead to credible information sources, they generally are not viewed as
credible in and of themselves.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 306

6. Distinguish between commercial and open-access sources of data/information.

ANS:
A commercial source provides data/information for a fee; an open-access source makes
data/information available free to anyone who has access to the Internet.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 306

7. What should be included in the procedures section of a formal report? What purposes does the
procedures section serve?
ANS:
The procedures section describes the steps that were taken in conducting the study. Purposes of the
section are to allow readers to determine whether or not all aspects of the problem were investigated
adequately and to aid another researcher to conduct a similar study that could validate or disprove the
results of the original study.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 316

8. Compare the conclusions and recommendations sections of a formal report.

ANS:
Conclusions are statements of reasoning that a researcher makes after a thorough analysis of the
findings. Recommendations are the writer's suggestions to the reader as to the action(s) that should be
taken to solve the problem that was studied. Recommendations should develop logically from the
findings and conclusions.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 316

9. Why are the mechanics of a written report important?

ANS:
The mechanics of a written report are important because they make the first impression on the reader-an impression that reflects on the report writer and his or her credibility.
PTS: 1

REF: p. 317

10. After analyzing the receiver of your report, you determine that he or she will not understand some of
the terms in your report. What should you do?
ANS:
Depending on the number of unfamiliar terms, the writer has two choices. If the number of unfamiliar
terms is small, the terms may be listed and defined as part of the report introduction. If numerous
terms are to be defined, the words and their definitions should be listed in a glossary at as a
supplementary part of the report
PTS: 1

REF: p. 317