Business Research Methods Final Exam Questions and Answers Latest Update
applied business research - ANSWER-Research conducted to address a specific business decision for a specific firm or organization.
basic business research - ANSWER-Research conducted without a specific decision in mind that usually does not address the needs of a specific organization. It attempts to expand the limits of knowledge in general and is not aimed at solving a particular pragmatic problem.
business research - ANSWER-The application of the scientific method in searching for the truth about business phenomena. These activities include defining business opportunities and problems, generating and evaluating ideas, monitoring performance, and understanding the business process.
hypothesis - ANSWER-Formal statement of an unproven proposition that is empirically testable.
theory - ANSWER-A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions
of how things relate to one another.
variables - ANSWER-Anything that may assume different numerical values; the empirical assessment of a concept.
causal research - ANSWER-Allows causal inferences to be made; seeks to identify cause-and-effect relationships.
descriptive research - ANSWER-Describes characteristics of objects, people, groups, organizations, or environments; tries to "paint a picture" of a given situation.
exploratory research - ANSWER-Conducted to clarify ambiguous situations or discover ideas that may be potential business opportunities.
business ethics - ANSWER-The application of morals to behavior related to the exchange environment.
confidentiality - ANSWER-The information involved in a research study will not be shared with others.
informed consent - ANSWER-When an individual understands what the researcher wants him or her to do and consents to the research study. dependent variable - ANSWER-A process outcome or a variable that is predicted and/or
explained by other variables.
independent variable - ANSWER-A variable that is expected to influence the dependent variable in some way.
problem definition - ANSWER-The process of defining and developing a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objectives.
qualitative business research - ANSWER-Research that addresses business objectives through techniques that allow the researcher to provide elaborate interpretations of phenomena without depending on numerical measurement; its focus is on discovering true inner meanings and new insights.
quantitative business research - ANSWER-Business research that addresses research objectives through empirical assessments that involve numerical measurement and analysis.
systematic error - ANSWER-Error resulting from some imperfect aspect of the research design that causes respondent error or from a mistake in the execution of the research.
observation - ANSWER-The systematic process of recording the behavioral patterns of people, objects, and occurrences as they are witnessed.
control group - ANSWER-A group of subjects to whom no experimental treatment is administered.
experimental group - ANSWER-A group of subjects to whom an experimental treatment is administered.
experimental treatment - ANSWER-The term referring to the way an experimental variable is manipulated.
attribute - ANSWER-A single characteristic or fundamental feature of an object, person, situation, or issue.
coefficient alpha (?) - ANSWER-The most commonly applied estimate of a multiple-item
scale's reliability. It represents the average of all possible split-half reliabilities for a construct.
composite measures - ANSWER-Assign a value to an observation based on a mathematical derivation of multiple variables.
concept - ANSWER-A generalized idea that represents something of meaning.
applied business research - ANSWER-Research conducted to address a specific business decision for a specific firm or organization.
basic business research - ANSWER-Research conducted without a specific decision in mind that usually does not address the needs of a specific organization. It attempts to expand the limits of knowledge in general and is not aimed at solving a particular pragmatic problem.
business research - ANSWER-The application of the scientific method in searching for the truth about business phenomena. These activities include defining business opportunities and problems, generating and evaluating ideas, monitoring performance, and understanding the business process.
hypothesis - ANSWER-Formal statement of an unproven proposition that is empirically testable.
theory - ANSWER-A formal, logical explanation of some events that includes predictions
of how things relate to one another.
variables - ANSWER-Anything that may assume different numerical values; the empirical assessment of a concept.
causal research - ANSWER-Allows causal inferences to be made; seeks to identify cause-and-effect relationships.
descriptive research - ANSWER-Describes characteristics of objects, people, groups, organizations, or environments; tries to "paint a picture" of a given situation.
exploratory research - ANSWER-Conducted to clarify ambiguous situations or discover ideas that may be potential business opportunities.
business ethics - ANSWER-The application of morals to behavior related to the exchange environment.
confidentiality - ANSWER-The information involved in a research study will not be shared with others.
informed consent - ANSWER-When an individual understands what the researcher wants him or her to do and consents to the research study. dependent variable - ANSWER-A process outcome or a variable that is predicted and/or
explained by other variables.
independent variable - ANSWER-A variable that is expected to influence the dependent variable in some way.
problem definition - ANSWER-The process of defining and developing a decision statement and the steps involved in translating it into more precise research terminology, including a set of research objectives.
qualitative business research - ANSWER-Research that addresses business objectives through techniques that allow the researcher to provide elaborate interpretations of phenomena without depending on numerical measurement; its focus is on discovering true inner meanings and new insights.
quantitative business research - ANSWER-Business research that addresses research objectives through empirical assessments that involve numerical measurement and analysis.
systematic error - ANSWER-Error resulting from some imperfect aspect of the research design that causes respondent error or from a mistake in the execution of the research.
observation - ANSWER-The systematic process of recording the behavioral patterns of people, objects, and occurrences as they are witnessed.
control group - ANSWER-A group of subjects to whom no experimental treatment is administered.
experimental group - ANSWER-A group of subjects to whom an experimental treatment is administered.
experimental treatment - ANSWER-The term referring to the way an experimental variable is manipulated.
attribute - ANSWER-A single characteristic or fundamental feature of an object, person, situation, or issue.
coefficient alpha (?) - ANSWER-The most commonly applied estimate of a multiple-item
scale's reliability. It represents the average of all possible split-half reliabilities for a construct.
composite measures - ANSWER-Assign a value to an observation based on a mathematical derivation of multiple variables.
concept - ANSWER-A generalized idea that represents something of meaning.
