Soalan Mid-Sem September 2012

1. _____ is the application of the scientific method in searching for the truth about business phenomena.

A. Induction  
B. Application research  
C. Business research  
D. Science

2. Which type of research tries to verify a theory or to learn more about a concept and is not intended to solve a particular business problem?

A. Performance-monitoring research.  
B. Basic research.  
C. Total quality management.  
D. The scientific method.

3. “Employees dressed professionally will generate greater sales than those dressed casually” is an example of a ___________.

A. theory  
B. proposition  
C. hypothesis  
D. variation

4. All of the following are types of variables EXCEPT:
A. Continuous.
B. Categorical.
C. Constant.
D. Dependent.

5. In the statement:  "Years of sales experience is an important variable in predicting unit sales performance," what type of variable is "years of experience"?

A. Dependent variable.  
B. Independent variable.  
C. Categorical variable.  
D. Classificatory variable.

6. A statement such as:  "If we increase price ten percent, sales will likely drop five percent or more," is an example of a _______.

A. hypothesis  
B. dependent variable  
C. problem definition  
D. research objective

7. A survey can collect information using which of the following techniques?
A. Telephone.
B. Face-to-face interviews.
C. Mail.
D. All of the above.

8. Systematic errors are also called __________.
A. random sampling error
B. interviewer error
C. nonresponse error
D. non-sampling errors

9. En. Ali received a phone call asking him to participate in a survey.  He told the interviewer that he was too busy and could not participate.  This is an example of _____.
A. random sampling error
B. administrative error
C. non-response error
D. interviewer error

10. When an interviewer asks the respondent to state which of six salary categories represents his gross income the previous year, this is an example of a(n) _______.
A. unstructured question
B. social desirability question
C. structured question
D. disguised question

11. Revathi is participating in a research study in which she completes a questionnaire every year.  She has been doing this for the past five years, and the purpose of the research is to study how consumers’ attitudes and preferences toward various food products change as they age.  This type of study in which respondents are questioned at multiple points in time is called a _______.
A. cross-sectional study
B. longitudinal study
C. permanent study
D. structured study

12. For the following question, please categorize the type of measurement scale.

“Please state your age: _______ years old.”
A. Nominal scale.
B. Ordinal scale.
C. Interval scale.
D. Ratio scale.

13. For the following question, please categorize the type of measurement scale.

“Please rank the university of your preference accordingly.
UUM ______
USM _______
UKM ______
UTM ______”

A. Nominal scale.
B. Ordinal scale.
C. Interval scale.
D. Ration scale.

14. For the following question, please categorize the type of measurement scale.

“Please state your highest academic qualification.
SPM     ______
STPM   ______
Degree ______
Master ______
PhD    _______”

A. Nominal scale.
B. Ordinal scale.
C. Interval scale.
D. Ration scale.

15. For the following question, please categorize the type of measurement scale.

“Reward is very important to Job Satisfaction
(1 – Strongly Disagree 2 – Disagree 3 – Neutral 4 – Agree 5 – Strongly Agree)”

A. Nominal scale.
B. Ordinal scale.
C. Interval scale.
D. Ration scale.

16. In _____ we start with a general theory and than apply this theory to a specific case.
A. deductive reasoning
B. inductive reasoning
C. latent reasoning
D. abstract reasoning

17. A ______________ is one that surfaces between the time the independent variables start operating to influence the dependent variable and the time their impact is felt on it.
A. mediating variable
B. extraneous variable
C. moderating variable
D. confounding variable

18. Which of the following does not include the process of building a theoretical framework?
A. Definitions of the concepts or variables in the model.
B. An operationalization of the concepts or variables in the model.
C. A logical explanation of the relationships within a model.
D. A graphical representation of the mode.

19. The ________________ is the variable of primary interest to the researcher.
A. independent variable
B. intervening variable
C. moderating variable
D. dependent variable

20. The opposite of the null hypothesis is called the _____ hypothesis.
A. pure
B. alpha
C. alternative
D. secondary

21. The error caused by rejecting the null hypothesis when it is, in fact, true is called a ____.
A. Type II error
B. confidence level error
C. confidence interval error
D. Type I error

22. ‘Confidence’, as a characteristic of scientific investigation, refers to ______.
A. the probability that our estimations are correct
B. the idea that a simple model that explains a certain phenomenon has preference over a complex model.
C. the fact that findings are generalizable
D. he fact that an investigation has a clear theoretical foundation

23. Scientific investigation is characterized by a good theoretical base and a sound methodological design. These characteristics are both related to the _______ of the investigation.
A. rigor
B. precision and confidence
C. objectivity
D. parsimony

24. The conclusion drawn through the interpretation of the results of data analysis should be based on the fact of the findings derived from the actual data and not on emotional values. This is known as _____.
A. rigor
B. precision and confidence
C. objectivity
D. generalizability

25. Parsimony refers to:
A. The probability that our estimations are correct.
B. The idea that a simple model explaining a certain phenomenon is preferred to a complex model.
C. The fact that findings are generalizable.
D. The fact that an investigation has a clear theoretical base.

26. “Students with a high need for academic achievement will be highly motivated to study. When they get motivated, they will perform better in their academic achievement. However, their motivation will not result in high academic achievement if they do not gave a high commitment in their study.”

What is the dependent variable in the above situation?
A. Motivation.
B. Commitment to study.
C. Academic achievement.
D. None of the above.

Question 27 – 29 are based on the following statement.

“A manager finds that off-the-job classroom training has a great impact on the productivity of the employees in her department. However, she also observes that employees over 60 years of age do not seem to drive much benefit and do not improve with such training.”

27. What is the independent variable in the above situation?
A. Off-the-job classroom training.
B. Age.
C. Productivity.
D. Employees.

28. What is the moderating variable in the above situation?
A. Off-the-job classroom training.
B. Age.
C. Productivity.
D. Employees.

29. What is the dependent variable in the above situation?
A. Off-the-job classroom training.
B. Age.
C. Productivity.
D. Employees.

30. __________ refers to the entire group of people, events, or things of interest that the researcher wishes to investigate.
A. Population
B. Sampling frame
C. Sample
D. Sampling unit

31. The most important disadvantage of a convenience sample is that ____.
A. it takes a lot of time and effort to find respondents
B. the research results cannot be generalized to the population
C. systematic biases are possible
D. it is relatively expensive

32. A single element or group of elements that is eligible for selection via the sampling process is called a ______.
A. sampling panel
B. sampling unit
C. sampling error
D. sampling quota

33. In which type of sampling does every element in the population have a known, nonzero probability of selection?
A. Absolute sampling.
B. Relative sampling.
C. Nonprobability sampling.
D. Probability sampling.

34. The medical inspector desires to estimate the overall average monthly occupancy rates of the cancer wards in 80 different hospitals which are evenly located in the Northwestern, Southeastern, Central, and Southern suburbs of New York City.  What would be the most appropriate sampling design?
A. Convenience sampling.
B. Simple random sampling.
C. Snowball sampling.
D. Judgment sampling.

35. What type of research is being conducted to answer the question:  "What is the average age of our employees?"

A. Exploratory research.  
B. Focus group research.  
C. Descriptive research.  
D. Causal research.

36. Which of the following is most suitable when there is little to no insight in a certain problem or when there is no information available on how similar problems or research issues have been solved in the past?
A. Exploratory research.
B. Descriptive research.
C. Causal research.
D. Experimental research.

37. Operationalizing is _________________.
A. designing questionnaires
B. translating a problem definition into a research question
C. making an abstract concept measurable
D. defining difficult concepts in the research proposal

38. With which allows us to calculate a mode and a median, but NOT a mean?
A.    A nominal scale.
B.    An ordinal scale.
C.    An interval scale.
D.    A ratio scale.

39. Raihana stands on a pair of scales three times in a row. The first time she weighs 55 kilo, the second time 55 kilo, and the third time 55 kilo. Her real weight is 40 kilo. What is the matter with the scales?
A.   The pair of scales is not reliable and not valid.
B.   The pair of scales is reliable but is not valid.
C.   The pair of scales is not reliable but is valid.
D.   The pair of scales is reliable and valid.

40. About a scale (set of questions) it can be said that it is _____if it measures what it purports to measure.
A.   reliable
B.   accurate
C.   valid
D.   consistent

Soalan Midterm FEB 2012

1.    Research done chiefly to make a contribution to existing knowledge is called _______.

A.	basic business research
B.	qualitative business research
C.	quantitative business research
D.	applied business research

2.    ‘Rigor’ related to scientific investigation refers, amongst others, to:

A.   the probability that our estimations are correct.

B.    the idea that a simple model that explains a certain phenomenon has preference over a complex model.

C.    the fact that findings are generalizable.

D.   the fact that a study has a good theoretical base. 

3.    Parsimony refers to:

A.   the probability that our estimations are correct.

B.    the idea that a simple model explaining a certain phenomenon is preferred to a complex   model.

C.    the fact that findings are generalizable.

D.   the fact that an investigation has a clear theoretical base.

4.    Which of the following is a hierarchical listing of the hypothetico-deductive research method?

A.   Identify a broad problem area - Define the problem statement - Develop hypotheses - Determine measures - Data collection - Data analysis - Interpretation of data

B.    Identify a broad problem area - Define the problem statement - Determine measures - Data collection - Develop hypotheses - Data analysis - Interpretation of data

C.    Define the problem statement - Identify a broad problem area - Determine measures - Develop hypotheses - Data collection - Data analysis - Interpretation of data

D.   Identify a broad problem area - Develop hypotheses - Determine measures - Data collection             - Data analysis - Interpretation of data

5.    What type of research is being conducted to answer the question:  "What is the average age of our employees?"

A.	exploratory research
B.	focus group research
C.	descriptive research
D.	causal research

6.    From an academic perspective research is relevant if:

A.   Nothing is known about a topic.

B.    Much is known about the topic, but the knowledge is scattered and not integrated.

C.    Much research on the topic is available, but the results are (partly) contradictory.

D.   All of the above.

7.    Which of the following does not represent a criterion for assessing the value of articles or books?

A.   The relevance of the issues that are addressed in the article or book.

B.    The importance of a book or article in terms of citations.

C.    The year of publication of the article or book.

D.   The number of authors of the article or book.

8.    The ________________ is the variable of primary interest to the researcher.

A.   Independent variable.

B.    Intervening variable.

C.    Moderating variable.

D.   Dependent variable.

9.    A ____________   has a strong contingent effect on the independent variable–dependent variable relationship.

A.   Mediating variable.

B.    Intervening variable.

C.   Moderating variable.

D.   Confounding variable.

10. A marketing manager believes that sales promotion has a positive effect on sales. Although he believes that this relationship holds true generally for all consumers he also believes that             it is nevertheless contingent on the price consciousness of consumers.

       What would be the dependent variable here?

A.      Profits.

B.      Sales promotion.

C.      Price consciousness.

D.      Sales.

11.  A ______________ is one that surfaces between the time the independent variables start operating to influence the dependent variable and the time their impact is felt on it.

A.   Mediating variable.

B.    Extraneous variable.

C.    Moderating variable.

D.   Confounding variable.

12. What is the moderating variable in the following model?

A.      Workforce diversity.

B.      Creative Synergy.

C.      Organizational effectiveness.

D.       None of the above.

13. Which of the following is most suitable when there is little to no insight in a certain problem   or when there is no information available on how similar problems or research issues have        been solved in the past?

A.      Exploratory research.

B.      Descriptive research.

C.      Causal research.

D.      Experimental research.

14.  Studies, when data on the dependent variable are gathered at two or more points in time to     answer the research question, are called:

A.      Cross-sectional studies.

B.      Longitudinal studies.

C.      Exploratory studies.

D.      Case studies.

15.  Which of the following studies is a causal study?  The researcher tries to find out:

A.      What percentage of the population thinks commercials are annoying compared to 10 years        ago.

B.      Why unemployment in Europe is higher than in Asia.

C.      If smoking is related to cancer.

D.      All the above answers are correct.

16. The goal of a ­_____________  study, hence, is to offer to the researcher a profile of the phenomena of interest from an individual, organizational, industry-oriented, or other perspective.

A.      Exploratory.

B.      Descriptive.

C.      Causal.

D.      Experimental.

17.  Objects include:

A.      Persons, strategic business units, and companies.

B.      Countries, cars, and arousal seeking tendency.

C.      Elephants, kitchen appliances, and shopping enjoyment.

D.      Restaurants, shampoo, and service quality.

18.       Examples of characteristics of objects are:

A.      Length, weight, and country.

B.      Arousal seeking tendency, strategic business unit, and shopping enjoyment.

C.      Service quality, conditioning effects, and taste.

D.      Restaurants, shampoo, and service quality.

19. You cannot measure objects;  you measure _____________ of objects.

A.      Elements.

B.      Dimensions.

C.      Antecedents.

D.      Attributes.

20. Operationalizing is:

A.      Designing questionnaires.

B.      Translating a problem definition into a research question.

C.      Making an abstract concept measurable.

D.      Defining difficult concepts in the research proposal.

21. A father measures the length of his son.

       Which of the following statements is correct?

A.      The son is the object; the length is the attribute.

B.      The father is the object; the length is the attribute.

C.      The son is the object; the tape measure is the attribute.

D.      Length is the object; the tape measure is the attribute.

22.  What is the type of scale of the variable ‘age’ if it is measured in the following way?

“What is your age?   ____ years.”

A.      Nominal.

B.      Ordinal.

C.      Interval.

D.      Ratio.

23. What is the measurement level of income, measured in the following way:

       “What is your annual gross income?”

       < €15.000

       €20.000 - €30.000

       €30.000 - €45.000

       > € 45.000

A.      Nominal.

B.      Ordinal.

C.      Interval.

D.      Ratio.                                                                                      

24.  What is the most powerful scale? 

A.      A nominal scale.

B.      An ordinal scale.

C.      An interval scale.

D.      A ratio scale.

25.  With which allows us to calculate a mode and a median, but not a mean? 

A.      A nominal scale.

B.      An ordinal scale.

C.      An interval scale.

D.      A ratio scale.

26.  Julia stands on a pair of scales three times in a row. The first time she weighs 69 kilo, the second time 69 kilo, and the third time 69 kilo. Her real weight is 51 kilo. What is the matter with the scales?

A.      The pair of scales is not reliable and not valid.

B.      The pair of scales is reliable but is not valid.

C.      The pair of scales is not reliable but is valid.

D.      The pair of scales is reliable and valid.

27. About a scale (set of questions) it can be said that it is                 if it measures what it purports to measure.

A.      Reliable.

B.      Accurate.

C.      Valid.

D.      Consistent.

28.  In what way can content validity of a scale be determined?

A.      A panel of experts judges a measuring instrument.

B.      When the score obtained by measuring a variable is empirically found to correlate with a related variable.

C.      When the score obtained by measuring a variable is empirically found not to correlate with an unrelated variable.

D.      All of the above.

29.  How do we call the following scale type?

       “Where in northern California do you reside?        

__ North Bay

__ South Bay

__ East Bay

__ Peninsula

__ Other“

A.      A category scale.

B.      A forced choice scale.

C.      A multidimensional scale.

D.      A itemized rating scale.

30.  Robert stands three times on a pair of scales within a period of 5 minutes. The first time he     weighs 92 kg, the second time he weighs 102 kg and the third time he weighs 95 kg. His real weight is 86 kg. What is the matter with the scales?

A.      The pair of scales is not reliable and not valid.

B.      The pair of scales is reliable but is not valid.

C.      The pair of scales is not reliable but is valid.

D.      The pair of scales is reliable and valid.

31.  What is not an advantage of observation as a research method?

A.      The obtained data are generally reliable and free of respondent bias.

B.      It is relatively easy to note the effects of environmental influences on specific outcomes.

C.      It is easy to observe certain groups or individuals from whom it may be otherwise difficult to obtain information.

D.      It is a cheap and fast way to collect information.

32.  “Do you think there is a good market for the product and that it will sell well?”

       This question is:

A.      Leading.

B.      Loaded.

C.      Double-barreled.

D.      Ambiguous. 

33. “To what extent would you say you are happy?”

A.      Leading.

B.      Loaded.

C.      Double-barreled.

D.      Ambiguous. 

34.  __________ refers to the entire group of people, events, or things of interest that the researcher wishes to investigate.

A.      Population.

B.      Sampling frame.

C.      Sample.

D.      Sampling unit.

35. The element or set of elements that is available for selection in some stage of the sampling process is the:

A.      Sample.

B.      Sampling unit.

C.      Sampling frame.

D.      Subject.

36. A researcher who investigates the relationship between the loyalty program of a specific supermarket and the loyalty towards this supermarket, collects his data by questioning consumers who leave the specific supermarket on several daily periods. The sampling method used by this researcher is called:

A.      Convenience sampling.

B.      Simple random sampling.

C.      Stratified sampling.

D.      Quota sampling.

37.  If representativeness of the sample is critical for the study, which of the following sampling techniques would you choose? 

A.      Simple random sampling.

B.      Judgement sampling.

C.      Convenience sampling.

D.      Quota sampling .

38.       The most important disadvantage of a convenience sample is that:

A.      It takes a lot of time and effort to find respondents.

B.      The research results cannot be generalized to the population. 

C.      Systematic biases are possible.

D.      It is relatively expensive.

39. The type of probability and non-probability sampling designs that is chosen depends on:

A.      The extent of generalizability desired.

B.      The demands of time and other resources.

C.      The purpose of the study.

D.      All of the above.

40.  Which of the following sampling designs is a form of non-probability sampling?

A.      Systematic sampling.

B.      Area sampling.

C.      Quota sampling.

D.      Cluster sampling.