reMethodsMCQ2

Question 01

Which of the following applies to 'mode 2' knowledge production?

a) It proceeds in a linear fashion building on existing knowledge.

b) It is driven primarily by an academic agenda.

c) It involves academics, policy makers and practitioners in problem solving.

d) It places limited emphasis on the practical dissemination of knowledge.

Question 02

Which of the following is not an example of a middle-range theory?

a) Labour process theory.

b) Contingency theory.

c) Strategic choice.

d) Structuration.

Question 03

Deductive research is where:

a) the researcher uses an existing theory to develop a hypothesis.

b) the researcher subjects a hypothesis to empirical scrutiny.

c) the researcher has to transform concepts within a hypothesis into researchable

entities.d) all of the above.

Question 04

Positivism is an epistemological position which:

a) means a researcher should approach data collection with enthusiasm.

b) advocates the application of natural science methods to the social world.

c) looks at the structures that generate social events and discourses.

d) suggests that research should be purely subjective.

Question 05

An interpretivist perspective on the issue of leadership suggests that:

# It proceeds in a

# Labour process

# the researcher

# means a resear

a) 'good' leadership can be measured.

b) leaders are born and not made.

c) it is a construct that is used to make sense of social action.

d) all leaders act in the same way regardless of context.

Question 06

Which of the following statements suggests an objectivist ontological position?

a) Social phenomena have an existence independent of social actors.

b) Social phenomena have different meanings for different people.

c) Social phenomena are the product of social interaction.

d) Social phenomena are fluid and cannot be defined.

Question 07

Constructionism is an ontological position which stresses:

a) the importance of quantifying social phenomena.

b) that order in organizations is a pre-existing characteristic.

c) that the concept of masculinity is the same all over the world.

d) that language and interaction construct our experiences of reality.

Question 08

According to Burrell & Morgan (1979) which one of the following is not a paradigm within business research methods?

a) Radical structuralist.

b) Radical positivist.

c) Functionalist.

d) Interpretative.

Question 09

Quantitative research is:

a) more likely to take a deductive approach.

b) more likely to take an objectivist ontological position.

# 'good' leadersh

# Social phenome

# the importance

# Radical structur

c) more likely to be informed by a positivist epistemological position.

d) all of the above.

Question 10

Qualitative research:

a) cannot be combined with quantitative research.

b) is aimed at entirely different phenomena that quantitative research.

c) is always inductive, interpretivist and constructivist.

d) none of the above.

_____________________________________________________-

Question 01

Internal validity relates to:

a) whether the measure really represents the concept under research.

b) whether the results of a study can be generalised to other contexts.

c) whether findings are applicable to natural social settings.

d) whether the independent variable is responsible for the variation in the dependent

variable.

Question 02

According to Lincoln & Guba (1985) which of the following is not a way of assessing the trustworthiness of qualitative research?

a) Dependability.

b) Accessibility.

c) Transferability.

d) Credibility.

Question 03

Research questions are crucial because they will:

a) guide your decisions about what data to collect and from where.

b) help you decide which research area interests you.

c) ensure that your findings have external validity.

# more likely to ta

#w hether the me

#Dependability.#A

d) prevent you from thinking about research strategies.

Question 04

Which of the following is a threat to the internal validity of an experimental design?

a) Maturation.

b) Interaction of setting and treatment.

c) Interaction effects of pre-testing.

d) Reactive effects of experimental arrangements.

Question 05

A cross-sectional research design:

a) allows for data collection over a substantial period of time.

b) is commonly used for collection of qualitative data.

c) allows for data in connection with two or more variables to be collected.

d) is typically strong in internal validity.

Question 06

Which of the following can be achieved by a longitudinal research design?

a) Mapping of change in an organization.

b) The change in employment relations over a number of years.

c) The experiences of employees who begin work on the same day.

d) All of the above.

Question 07

Which of the following types of cases is the most common within business and management research?

a) Single organization.

b) A person.

c) Single event.

d) Single location.

#guide your decis

#Maturation.#Inte

#allow s for data

#Mapping of chan

#Single organizat

Question 08

Multiple case study design can be criticised because:

a) the researcher will collect too much data.

b) the researcher pays less attention to specific context.

c) it costs too much money.

d) it takes too much time.

Question 09

The 'Hawthorne Effect' refers to:

a) the impact of heat and light on worker productivity.

b) the development of the 'human relations' approach to the study of work.

c) the researcher creating a bias in the data through participation in the research

situation. d) the psychological effect of falling into a bush.

Question 10

The typical form of a longitudinal research design using a qualitative strategy is:

a) qualitative content analysis of documents relating to one specific event.

b) qualitative interviews conducted over one week.

c) ethnographic research.


Question 01

Which of the following requirements for a dissertation may depend on your institution?

a) Whether an abstract should be included.

b) The format for referencing.

c) The word limit.


Question 02

#the researcher w

#the impact of he

#Whether an abs

Which of the following is not a function of clearly identified research questions?

a) They guide your literature search.

b) They keep you focused throughout the data collection period.

c) They make the scope of your research as wide as possible.

d) They are linked together to help you construct a coherent argument.

Question 03

What did Marx (1997) mean when he suggested that 'opposition' can be a possible source of research questions?

a) The researcher may feel that a theoretical perspective or piece of work is

misguided and want to provide an alternative. b) Students and their supervisors generally disagree, so the student may choose to

research something that s/he knows will annoy their supervisor. c) The researcher may have faced hostility from the prospective gatekeepers of the

research setting, but decides to go ahead with the study anyway. d) Business research is the only means through which the Proletariat can overthrow

the Bourgeoisie.

Question 04

The role of a project supervisor is to:

a) bully the student until they agree to conduct the study that the supervisor had in

mind all along. b) provide intellectual support, guidance and critical feedback.

c) negotiate access to the research setting on the student's behalf.


Question 05

What is the name of the online database that allows you to browse through journal articles about your research topic?

a) Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)

b) www.amazon.co.uk (ACU)

c) ABC/CONFORM

d) Bryman's Resources for International Language Learning (BRILL)

#They guide your

#The researcher

#bully the studen

#Social Science C

Question 06

The purpose of a literature review is to:

a) help you find out what is already known about this area.

b) identify any inconsistencies or gaps in the literature.

c) demonstrate an awareness of the theoretical context in which the current study

can be located. d) all of the above.

Question 07

Which of the following should you think about when preparing your research?

a) Your sample frame and sampling strategy.

b) The ethical issues that might arise.

c) Negotiating access to the setting.


Question 08

Why is it helpful to keep a research diary or log book while you are conducting your project?

a) To give you something to do in the early stages of your research when nothing is

happening. b) Because funding councils generally demand to see written evidence that you

were working every day during the period of the research. c) To keep a record of what you did and what happened throughout the research

process. d) It can be added to your dissertation to ensure that you reach the required word

limit.

Question 09

When writing up your research, which of the following should you not do?

a) Start early.

b) Avoid your supervisor.

c) Be persuasive.

d) Avoid racist, sexist and disablist language.

#help you f ind ou

#Your sample fra

#To give you som

Question 10

Which of the following represents the correct order for these five main sections of a dissertation?

a) Conclusion, Introduction, Methods, Literature Review, Results.

b) Methods, Results, Conclusion, Literature Review, Introduction.

c) Literature Review, Results, Methods, Introduction, Conclusion.

d) Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Conclusion.

Question 01

What problem is associated with citing research such as that conducted by Dalton (1959) or Milgram (1963) in discussions of ethical practices?

a) Their research was conducted too long ago to still be relevant.

b) Their research was illegal not unethical.

c) Discussing their research implies that ethical concerns only reside in extreme

cases. d) Discussing their research implies ethical concerns are specific to certain culture.

Question 02

What is the difference between a universalist and a situationist approach to research ethics?

a) A universalist suggests ethical principles should never be broken, whereas a

situationist suggests that they should be considered on a case by case basis. b) A universalist argues there are no common ethical principles, whereas a

situationist believes that different cultures share similar approaches to ethics. c) A universalist believes that researchers will always transgress ethical principles,

whereas a situationist believes ethical principles are transgressed all the time in modern society.

d) A universalist believes that ethical transgression is acceptable as long as the end

justifies the means, whereas a situationist believes ethical transgression is never acceptable.

Question 03

#Start early.#Avo

#Their research w

#A universalist su

Following Diener & Crandall (1978) which of the following is not an issue relating to ethical principles in business research?

a) Whether there is a lack of informed consent.

b) Whether there is an invasion of privacy.

c) Whether there is harm to the participants.

d) Whether there is harm to the researcher.

Question 04

Milgram's (1963) experiments harmed participants by:

a) failing to compensate them for their involvement.

b) by giving them electric shocks.

c) by inducing stress and anxiety by asking them to perform reprehensible acts.


Question 05

What should the business researcher be aware of when signing a confidentiality agreement?

a) Any clause which limits the length of a questionnaire.

b) Any clause which allows the company to comment on findings that will be

published. c) Any clause which increases the level of access for the researcher.

d) Any clause which guarantees the anonymity of research participants.

Question 06

What difficulties are there for the business researcher in ensuring the informed consent of the participants?

a) It is a time consuming process.

b) It increases the issue of reactivity.

c) It is impossible to present participants with all the information they need.

d) It has no relevance to a study's findings.

Question 07

#Whether there is

#failing to compen

#Any clause w hi

#It is a time consu

What particular challenge do ethnographers face in obtaining the informed consent of all research participants?

a) Ethnography involves covert observation so informed consent cannot be

obtained. b) Informed consent will limit the ethnographer's ability to see participants acting

naturally. c) The ethnographer themselves does not know what their research is about.

d) The wide spectrum of people the ethnographer comes into contact with means

obtaining informed consent from everyone is difficult.

Question 08

Which of the following questions might invade the privacy of a research participant?

a) How long have you worked for this organisation?

b) What is your home address?

c) What do you think about your direct line manager?

d) What happened during your last performance appraisal?

Question 09

Which of the following is an example of deception in business research?

a) The obtaining of company material without permission.

b) The researcher wearing a disguise during an observation.

c) The researcher representing their research as being about a different topic.

d) The researcher failing to ask permission to interview someone.

Question 10

What problem does a research organization face when drawing up an ethical code?

a) Identifying relevant legislation that should guide behaviour.

b) Reflecting the difficulty of making truly ethical decisions.

c) Incorporating assessments for the ethical behaviour of participants.


Question 01

#Ethnography inv

#How long have

#The obtaining of

Which of the following is not a concept?

a) Leadership.

b) IQ.

c) Total Quality Management.

d) Human Resource Management.

Question 02

The advantages of using multiple-indicator measures are that:

a) they offset the effects of misclassification.

b) they help reduce the number of distinctions between respondents.

c) they reduce the range of aspects of the concept that the researcher can access.


Question 03

What is the difference between reliability and validity?

a) Reliability relates to the consistency of respondents, whereas validity relates to

the suitability of respondents. b) Reliability relates to the suitability of respondents, whereas validity relates to the

consistency of respondents. c) Reliability relates to the suitability of an indicator, whereas validity relates to the

consistency of measures. d) Reliability relates to the consistency of measures, whereas validity relates to the

suitability of an indicator.

Question 04

Which of the following statements relates to concurrent validity?

a) The measure apparently reflects the content of the concept in question.

b) A criterion is employed on which cases are known to differ.

c) A future criterion is employed on which cases are known to differ.

d) A measure is gauged by comparing it to measures of the same concept

developed through other methods.

Question 05

#Leadership.#IQ.

#they offset the e

#Reliability relates

#The measure ap

In the statement 'an examination of the effects of discretionary behaviour on employee performance' employee performance is the:

a) Independent variable.

b) Dependent variable.

c) Extraneous variable.

d) Causal variable.

Question 06

Quantitative researcher's preoccupation with generalization is an attempt to:

a) develop the lawlike findings of the natural sciences.

b) boost their chances of publication.

c) enhance the internal validity of their research.

d) demonstrate the complex techniques of statistical analysis.

Question 07

In order to achieve replication quantitative researchers should:

a) dress the same.

b) use only established theories.

c) use exactly the same sample as previous research.

d) be highly explicit about their procedures.

Question 08

The critique of the accuracy of quantitative research includes which of the following?

a) Respondents are not individually selected.

b) Respondents do not always complete questionnaires in the presence of the

researcher. c) Respondents do not interpret key terms in the same way.

d) Respondents may not understand the epistemological foundation of the research.

Question 09

The term 'reverse operationism' means that measures:

#Independent var

#develop the law

#dress the same.

#Respondents ar

a) are designed that lead to the developments of concepts.

b) are designed that reverse the direction of causality.

c) are designed that can be analysed in two alternative ways.

d) are designed that are palindromes.

Question 10

Procedures determining what two issues are rarely used in quantitative research?

a) Objectivity and subjectivity.

b) Reliability and validity.

c) Accessibility and replicability.

d) Quality and quantity.

Question 01

What is a sampling frame?

a) The report of a pilot study.

b) The selection of specific individuals to participate in the research.

c) A summary of the research process.

d) The listing of all units in the population from which the sample will be selected.

Question 02

How will a researcher usually prevent a significant sampling error?

a) Interview all respondents in advance.

b) Issue questionnaires to the entire sampling frame.

c) Put all the names in a hat.

d) Use probability sampling.

Question 03

If an organisation has 12,000 employees and the researcher is able to interview 250 the probability of inclusion in the sample is?

a) 1 in 96.

b) 1 in 20.

#are designed tha

#The report of a p

#Interview all res

c) 1 in 48.

d) 1 in 250.

Question 04

If a researcher wishes to obtain a nationally representative sample of trade union members but does not have the resources to travel long distances what method of sampling could they use?

a) Stratified random sampling.

b) Multi-stage cluster sampling.

c) Simple random sampling.

d) Snowball sampling.

Question 05

Which of the following is not something a researcher will have to consider when thinking about their sample size?

a) Time and cost.

b) Non-response.

c) Length of questionnaire.

d) Heterogeneity of population.

Question 06

Which of the following is an example of convenience sampling?

a) A stratified random sample of CEO's drawn from the top 100 UK companies.

b) A random sample of employees who are absent from work through stress.

c) Managers attending a seminar on corporate social responsibility organised by the

researcher. d) Illegal workers.

Question 07

Which of the following is not a benefit of snowball sampling?

a) It can be used when there is difficulty in creating a sampling frame.

b) It is always representative of the population.

#1 in 96.#1 in 20.

#Stratif ied random

#Time and cost.#

#A stratif ied rand

c) It can be used within a qualitative research strategy.

d) It can be used to reflect relationships between people by tracing connections.

Question 08

Quota sampling is used intensively in which type of research?

a) Market research.

b) Experimental research.

c) Action research.

d) Ethnographic research.

Question 09

The findings from a study of decision making processes within a UK financial services company can be generalized to:

a) decision making processes in all financial services companies.

b) decision making processes in the all UK companies.

c) decision making processes in the researched companies.


Question 10

As part of survey research design the sample was selected by the HR manager. What sort of error could this lead to?

a) Sampling error.

b) Sampling related error.

c) Data collection error.

d) Data processing error.

Question 01

What is the benefit of standardizing the asking of questions?

a) Each interview will last for exactly the same length of time.

b) A survey questionnaire can be delivered to a room full of people.

c) Answer variation will be 'true' and not due to the interview context.

#It can be used w

#Market research

#decision making

d) The interviewer can predict the answers that the interviewee will give.

Question 02

A closed question means:

a) the respondent is given a limited choice of possible answers.

b) the final question of the interview.

c) the interviewer can embellish the interviewee's answer.

d) the responses are difficult to codify.

Question 03

Which of the following is not a disadvantage of telephone interviewing?

a) The telephone interviewer cannot use visual aids.

b) It is difficult to ascertain if the correct person is replying.

c) People who do not have access to a telephone cannot be interviewed.

d) Telephone interviews are cheap and quick to administer.

Question 04

Which of the following issues should not be mentioned in an introductory statement?

a) The information will be kept confidential.

b) What the findings of the research are.

c) Who is funding the research.

d) Why the respondent has been chosen.

Question 05

Which of the following questions should come at the start of a question section on corporate social responsibility?

a) How strongly do you feel about corporate social responsibility?

b) Are you in favour of corporate social responsibility?

c) Have you heard of corporate social responsibility?

d) Why are you in favour of corporate social responsibility?

#Each interview w

#the respondent

#The telephone in

#The information

#How strongly do

Question 06

The benefit of using a show card to prompt the interviewee is:

a) that the interviewee does not have to speak.

b) the interview can be conducted over the telephone.

c) the interviewer does not have to read the same thing out on numerous occasions.

d) the interviewer can demonstrate their artistic skills.

Question 07

Which of the following is an example of critical incident method?

a) Asking respondents to describe their response to different advertisements.

b) Asking respondents to talk aloud whilst they are completing a performance

appraisal form. c) Asking respondents to tell a story of an interaction they had with senior

management. d) None of the above.

Question 08

The repertory grid method is based on which theory?

a) Personal motivation theory.

b) Personal destruction theory.

c) Personal consumption theory.

d) Personal construct theory.

Question 09

Which of the following is an example of acquiescence?

a) The interviewee answers in a way that they think is socially desirable.

b) The interviewee tends to agree or disagree with a set of questions.

c) The interviewee draws on and creates meaning at the same time.

d) The interviewee agrees to do anything that the interviewer asks them.

Question 10

#that the interview

#Asking respond

#Personal motiva

#The interview ee

Which of the following is not part of the feminist critique of structured interviewing?

a) All structured interviews are conducted with men.

b) When women interview women using this method it implies a hierarchical

relationship. c) It gives the impression of exploitation.

d) It prevents the feminist researcher from developing genuine relationships with

respondents.

Question 01

Which of the following is not an advantage of the self-completion questionnaire over the structured interview?

a) It is cheaper to administer.

b) It is quicker to administer.

c) It is easier to prompt the interviewee.

d) It is easier to remove interviewer effects.

Question 02

Which of the following are disadvantages of the self-completed questionnaire?

a) Inability to confirm who completed the questionnaire.

b) Its unsuitability for some kinds of respondents.

c) Inability to ask many questions that are not directly relevant to the respondent.


Question 03

Which of the following statements might assist response rates?

a) Please photocopy the questionnaire five times and pass on to your work

colleagues. b) Please make sure that the questionnaire is completed with a fountain pen.

c) Please read the attached journal article on the ontological foundations of

positivism prior to completing the questionnaire. d) Please put the completed questionnaire in the enclosed stamped addressed

envelope and place in the mail out tray.

Question 04

#It is cheaper to a

#Inability to confir

#Please photocop

What should the researcher do if they have achieved a low response rate?

a) Fill in some more questionnaires themselves.

b) Abandon the research project entirely.

c) Recognize and accept the possible limitations of a low response rate.

d) None of the above.

Question 05

One of the following statements is correct.

a) A questionnaire should run to at least twenty pages.

b) The questions should have no spaces between them so that the whole

questionnaire looks small. c) Only questionnaires that are A3 size achieve high response rates.

d) Clear presentation is more important than overall size.

Question 06

Should closed answers be arranged:

a) horizontally.

b) vertically.

c) diagonally.

d) circuitously.

Question 07

Which of the following is likely to happen if clear instructions are not given as how the respondent should answer the question?

a) Respondents may delete inappropriate answers rather than select appropriate

ones. b) Respondents may choose only one answer when they need to choose as many

as apply. c) Respondents may complete questions that are not relevant to them.


Question 08

#Fill in some more

#A questionnaire

#horizontally.#ve

#Respondents ma

Which of the following is not a major use of diaries in business research?

a) The diary as a method of data collection.

b) The diary as a document.

c) The diary as a log of researcher's literature search.

d) The diary as a log of the researcher's activities.

Question 09

Which of the following is not a suitable topic for research using a diary?

a) The amount of time managers spend on particular activities.

b) The frequency with which managers undertake particular tasks.

c) The locations in which a trade union representative has discussions with

individual members. d) The volume of female managers in the retail industry.

Question 10

Which of the following comments demonstrates a process of attrition on the part of a diary respondent?

a) 'the researcher never checks that I am completing my diary correctly'.

b) 'I can't be bothered to complete this diary anymore'.

c) 'I keep forgetting to include the number of phone calls I make each day'.

d) 'I have decided to use the diary to record all of my personal thoughts and

feelings'.

Question 01

Which of the following is an advantage of open questions?

a) They allow respondents to answer in their own terms.

b) They prevent respondents from giving unusual answers.

c) They allow respondents to put less effort into their answer.

d) They allow respondents to code their answers in advance.

Question 02

What is the difference between a closed question and an open question?

#The diary as a m

#The amount of ti

#They allow resp

a) A closed question means that the chances of unreliable post-coding is small,

whereas an open question means that there is a possibility of data processing error. b) A closed question allows for the researchers terminology to be used, whereas an

open question allows the respondent to use terms they are familiar with. c) A closed question allows for easy processing, whereas coding an open question

can be very time consuming. d) All of the above.

Question 03

Which of the following is an example of a question about normative standards and values?

a) How many workers are employed at this plant?

b) What is your attitude towards the management at this plant?

c) Do you always cast your vote in trade union elections?

d) Are you aware of the main features of the European Union Directive for informing

and consulting employees?

Question 04

If one of your research questions is 'what role do HR Departments play in manufacturing companies?' which of the following questions should you include in your questionnaire?

a) Does your organisation manufacture red cars or blue cars?

b) How much corporation tax did your organisation pay in the last financial year?

c) Does your organisation employ a Director of HR?

d) Does the HR Department have an annual Christmas party?

Question 05

Why is it important to avoid ambiguous terms when designing questions?

a) Respondents may not understand the question.

b) Respondents may operate with a different frame of reference.

c) Respondents may think the question is less important.

d) Respondents may have to ask for help when completing the questionnaire.

#A closed questio

#How many w ork

#Does your organ

#Respondents ma

Question 06

Which of the following is a double-barrelled question?

a) How satisfied are you with the performance appraisal system?

b) How satisfied are you with investment levels in new and existing software

packages? c) How satisfied are you with the organisations marketing strategy?

d) How satisfied are you with the levels of customer satisfaction?

Question 07

Questions that include negatives should be avoided because:

a) The respondent may miss out the negative word.

b) The respondent may be unsure how to answer if the question includes a double

negative. c) The respondent may be led by the question.


Question 08

Why is asking a vignette question about ethical behaviour beneficial?

a) Because it allows for an abstract discussion of ethical values.

b) Because it ensures that the respondent does not have to reflect on their own

ethicality. c) Because it anchors the choice in a situation and prevents an unreflective reply.

d) Because it prevents the researcher from discussing sensitive issues.

Question 09

Piloting questions is important because:

a) it enables the researcher to clear up any confusion.

b) it enables the researcher to collect additional data.

c) it enables the researcher to get an idea of likely response rate.

d) it enables the researcher to see if their questions can fly.

Question 10

#How satisf ied a

#The respondent

#Because it allow

#it enables the re

Which of the following is not an advantage of using existing questions?

a) They will have already been piloted for you.

b) You will be able to investigate any reliability and validity testing that has taken

place. c) You will be able to claim your work is entirely original.

d) You will be able to make comparisons with other research.

Question 01

Which of the following is not an example of a problem with using social survey research to investigate behaviour?

a) Respondents tend to answer by giving the most socially desirable answer.

b) Respondents may inadvertently omit key terms in the question.

c) Respondents may not give an honest reply to what they see as a threatening

question. d) Respondents may be unwilling to reveal information as they believe they are likely

to be identified.

Question 02

What is structured observation?

a) The analysis of tall buildings.

b) A technique in which the researcher observes behaviour from one position in the

workplace. c) A technique in which the researcher uses specific rules for behaviour observation.

d) A technique in which the researcher observes behaviour from a covert location.

Question 03

In Mintzberg's (1973) study of managerial work, structured data were collected by which method?

a) A mail record which described each piece of mail and the action taken to respond

to it. b) A travel record which described the number of times a manager travelled between

regional offices. c) A lunch record which described the time managers took for lunch breaks.

d) A banter record which described all of the informal humorous conversations

managers had with subordinates.

#Respondents te

#The analysis of

Question 04

When devising an observation schedule it is important that the observer:

a) has a clear focus about who or what they are observing.

b) uses a recording system that is easy to operate.

c) uses mutually exclusive and inclusive categories.


Question 05

Which of the following is a strategy for observing the behaviour of a bank manager in a structured fashion?

a) A daily observation of their morning briefing to the branch.

b) Observations of their interactions with customers.

c) Four observations during the day lasting twenty-five minutes each.

d) Observation of all filing conducted by the manager each day.

Question 06

Following Martin & Bateson (1986) an observation of a specific individual for a set period of time is an example of:

a) scan sampling.

b) focal sampling.

c) ad libitum sampling.

d) behaviour sampling.

Question 07

The difference between inter-observer consistency and intra-observer consistency is:

a) inter-observer consistency refers to the degree to which different observers agree,

whereas intra-observer consistency refers to the degree one observer remains consistent over time.

b) inter-observer consistency refers to the need for all observations to be conducted

at identical times, whereas intra-observer consistency refers to the need for one observer to observe only one behaviour.

#A mail record w

#has a clear focu

#A daily observa

#scan sampling.#

c) inter-observer consistency refers to the practice of observers observing each

other, whereas intra-observer consistency refers to the practice of observer self-assessment.

d) inter-observer consistency refers to the degree the subjects demonstrate the

same behaviours, whereas intra-observer consistency refers to the degree that the subjects demonstrate different behaviours.

Question 08

What is the benefit of a conducting a structured observation using a field stimulation?

a) It is an overtly ethical form of research.

b) It ensures that the subjects are fully informed of the research.

c) It reduces the problem of subject reactivity.

d) It is usually conducted outdoors.

Question 09

Which issues can be observed more effectively during an organisational simulation than in a 'real' organizational setting?

a) Time managers spend on customer complaints.

b) Distance managers walk each day.

c) Decision making and problem solving.

d) Attitudes towards health and safety.

Question 10

A criticism of structured observation is that it:

a) neglects the context within which behaviour occurs.

b) neglects the links between behaviour and personality.

c) neglects the role of the structures of capitalism that influence behaviour.

d) neglects the importance of language in organizational settings.

Question 01

Which of the following questions can be answered using content analysis?

a) How do managers behave in the face of employment insecurity?

b) How do the media report corporate re-branding exercises?

#inter-observer c

#It is an overtly e

#Time managers

c) What effect does organizational size have on marketing strategy?

d) What are the most popular leisure activities amongst the over-50s?

Question 02

Which of the following is not a main characteristic of content analysis?

a) Quantification of the content of selected texts.

b) Systematic analysis.

c) Discursive deconstruction.

d) Objectivity.

Question 03

What is the first stage of sampling when conducting a content analysis on media reports?

a) Record all television news programmes for a week.

b) Define which part of the media is going to be analysed.

c) Assess the timescales within which you are going to select texts.

d) Identify how each variable will be coded.

Question 04

What is the benefit of focussing a content analysis on specific words?

a) It enables the researcher to assess a text's grammatical sophistication.

b) It enables the researcher to measure the time taken to construct the text.

c) It enables the researcher to show which interpretative frameworks are used in the

text. d) It enables the researcher to judge the future use of specific words in specific

contexts.

Question 05

What is a coding schedule?

a) A form into which all the data relating to an item is entered.

b) A form ensuring that all of the different categories are mutually exclusive.

#How do manage

#Quantif ication of

#Record all televi

#It enables the re

c) A form which sets out the interpretative framework of the researcher.

d) A form which measures the relationship between different categories.

Question 06

What does a coding manual contain?

a) Information about the research questions.

b) Information about the research subjects.

c) Information about how the different coding categories are to be defined.

d) Information about how many times the different coding categories are used in a

text.

Question 07

What must a researcher be aware of when using a term such as management in a coding scheme?

a) Potential confusion because the term management can have different meanings.

b) Potential confusion because management does not form one single unit of

analysis. c) Potential confusion because management has different meaning in different

languages. d) All of the above.

Question 08

Which of the following is an advantage of content analysis?

a) It is a very transparent form of research.

b) It is able to easily incorporate a longitudinal element.

c) It minimises the impact of the researcher on the subject of study.


Question 09

Which of the following is true?

a) It is impossible to issue the same instructions to all coders.

#A form into w hic

#Information abou

#Potential confus

#It is a very trans

b) It is impossible to devise coding manuals that do not require coders to undertake

some interpretation. c) It is impossible to understand the social world by studying the mass media.

d) It is impossible to use content analysis to look at elite groups.

Question 10

Content analysis can be criticised because:

a) it is an obscure and opaque method.

b) it focuses solely on questions of why in business research.

c) relevant documents are hard to obtain.

d) it is atheoretical as it focuses on what can be measured not what is theoretically

important.

Question 01

What is secondary analysis?

a) Re-analysis of data to check for accuracy.

b) Re-analysis of data for issues of secondary importance.

c) Re-analysis of data that others have collected.


Question 02

What is the particular advantage of secondary analysis to business students?

a) It is less intellectually challenging.

b) It guarantees positive results.

c) It is less expensive and less time consuming that primary analysis.

d) It enables students to gain experience of the workplace.

Question 03

Why do many data sets used for secondary analysis contain high quality data?

a) Because the data is presented attractively.

b) Because rigorous sampling procedures are commonly used.

#It is impossible to

#Re-analysis of d

#It is less intellect

c) Because the data sets focus on specific regions and issues.

d) Because the data is kept confidential.

Question 04

Which of the following types of analysis can be done using secondary analysis?

a) The analysis of specific subgroups.

b) Longitudinal analysis.

c) Cross-cultural analysis.


Question 05

Which of the following is not a data set suitable for secondary analysis?

a) British Household Panel Survey.

b) Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS).

c) Labour Force Survey.

d) UK Management Qualifications Survey.

Question 06

Which of the following applies to a meta-analysis?

a) The detailed analysis of one specific study.

b) The pooling of results from various studies.

c) A study completed by a large number of researchers.

d) The analysis of sample size used in a range of studies.

Question 07

How does secondary analysis assist the business researcher's wider obligations?

a) By allowing them to conduct socially responsible research.

b) By allowing then to increase their chances of publishing material.

c) By making more effective use of information that participants have freely

provided. d) By assessing the accuracy of previous studies.

#Because the da

#The analysis of

#British Househo

#The detailed ana

Question 08

Why might the size of some data sets actually be a limitation for the researcher?

a) They require extensive computer memory to access.

b) It is difficult to distinguish between variables.

c) The data can be highly complex.

d) The data does not allow for an exploration of context.

Question 09

Which of the following issues does not affect the reliability of official statistics on strike action?

a) The location where the statistics are collated.

b) Changing definitions of strike action.

c) Reliance on voluntary notification by employers.

d) Failure to record the full impact of any strike action.

Question 10

Why is the use of official statistics an unobtrusive method?

a) Because research of this kind is only published in a select few journals.

b) Because analysis of official statistics rarely leads to change in the social world.

c) Because it is immune from the issue of reactivity.

d) Because the researcher cannot address the issue of causality using official

statistics

Question 01

What is the difference between interval/ratio and ordinal variables?

a) The distance between categories is equal across the range of interval/ration data.

b) Ordinal data can be rank ordered, but interval/ratio data cannot.

c) Interval/ratio variables contain only two categories.

d) Ordinal variables have a fixed zero point, whereas interval/ratio variables do not.

#By allow ing them

#They require ex

#The location w h

#The distance be

Question 02

What is the difference between a bar chart and a histogram?

a) A histogram does not show the entire range of scores in a distribution.

b) Bar charts are circular, whereas histograms are square.

c) There are no gaps between the bars on a histogram.

d) Bar charts represent numbers, whereas histograms represent percentages.

Question 03

What is an outlier?

a) A type of variable that cannot be qualified.

b) A score that is irrelevant to the analysis.

c) A score that is left out of the analysis because of missing data.

d) An extreme value at either end of a distribution.

Question 04

What is the function of a contingency table in the context of bivariate analysis?

a) It shows the results you would expect to find by chance.

b) It summarises the frequencies of two variables so that they can be compared.

c) It compares the results you might get from various statistical tests.

d) It lists the different levels of p value for tests of significance.

Question 05

If there were a perfect positive correlation between two interval/ratio variables, the Pearson's r test would give a correlation coefficient of:

a) -0.33

b) +1.

c) +0.88

d) -1.

Question 06

#A histogram doe

#A type of variab

#It show s the res

#-0.33#+1.#+0.88

What is the name of the test that is used to assess the relationship between two ordinal variables?

a) Spearman's rho

b) Phi

c) Cramer's V

d) Chi Square

Question 07

When might it be appropriate to conduct a multivariate analysis test?

a) If the relationship between two variables might be spurious.

b) If there could be an intervening variable.

c) If a third variable might be moderating the relationship.


Question 08

What is meant by a 'spurious' relationship between two variables?

a) One that is so ridiculously illogical it cannot possibly be true.

b) An apparent relationship that is so curious it demands further attention.

c) A relationship that appears to be true because each variable is related to a third

one. d) One that produces a perfect negative correlation on a scatter diagram.

Question 09

A test of statistical significance indicates how confident the researcher is about:

a) the inter-coder reliability of their structured interview schedule.

b) passing their driving test.

c) understanding the difference between bivariate and multivariate analysis.

d) generalising their findings from the sample to the population.

Question 10

Setting the p level at 0.01 increases the chances of making a:

#Spearman's <em

#If the relationshi

#One that is so ri

#the inter-coder r

a) type I error.

b) type II error.

c) type III error


Question 01

The term qualitative research can be criticised because:

a) it simplifies the differences between quantitative and qualitative research

strategies. b) it can only be defined in terms of what quantitative research is not.

c) it does not acknowledge the variety of forms that the research strategy can

assume. d) all of the above.

Question 02

What is the difference between the way quantitative and qualitative researchers use existing theory?

a) Quantitative researchers identify theories to be tested in advance, whereas for

qualitative researchers theories are drawn from analysing the data. b) Quantitative researchers have a limited number of relevant theories, whereas

qualitative researchers have an unlimited pool of theories to draw from. c) Quantitative researchers are unsure of how to test for specific theories, whereas

qualitative researchers follow strict guidelines when conducting analysis. d) all of the above.

Question 03

What is the problem with using strict definitions of important concepts?

a) They prevent research from being truly objective.

b) They take the focus away from accurate measurement.

c) They prevent the researcher from assessing alternative ways of viewing a

concept. d) They prevent a consistent approach being achieved with business research.

#it simplif ies the d

#Quantitative res

#They prevent re

Question 04

According to Guba and Lincoln (1994) how can a qualitative researcher achieve transferability within the criteria of trustworthiness?

a) By conducting the same research in more than one location.

b) By producing a thick description of context so others can make judgements about

the applicability of the findings to other contexts. c) By promoting issues of particular significance that appear to the researcher as

enhancing the uniqueness of the research site. d) By making direct comparisons with existing research in the same field.

Question 05

What benefit is there to using a qualitative research design to look at the issue of women in management?

a) It is important to measure the number of women in management positions.

b) It is important to consider the average number of subordinate's women managers

have. c) It is important to find out what occupations women managers are most commonly

associated with. d) It is important to understand how women managers describe themselves in

relation to male managers.

Question 06

Why do qualitative researchers place an emphasis on process?

a) In order to demonstrate how events and patterns unfold over time.

b) To be able to establish universal causality.

c) So that they can isolate which specific events are independent of all others.

d) In order to highlight the importance of operations management.

Question 07

How might a qualitative researcher respond to the criticism that their research into IT workers cannot be generalized to other settings?

a) 'I made every effort to ensure that my respondents were representative'.

b) 'I think that IT workers are the same regardless of where they work'.

c) 'My research generalizes to theories not populations.'

#By conducting th

#It is important to

#In order to demo

d) 'Maybe your right, I'll need to survey all IT workers right away'

Question 08

Which of the following is not a contrast between quantitative and qualitative research?

a) Numbers vs. Words.

b) Macro vs. Micro.

c) Behaviour vs. Meaning.

d) Relevant vs. Irrelevant.

Question 09

What is distinctive about action research?

a) The emphasis that it places on the researcher constantly moving around the

research site. b) Its aim of diagnosing and solving specific organisational problems.

c) Its popularity as a method with both qualitative and quantitative researchers.

d) Its common use of cognitive mapping.

Question 10

Why does qualitative feminist research have a particularly important role in business and management research?

a) It can address the issue of exploitation within organisations.

b) Organizational research has typically been pursued from a male-oriented

perspective. c) Qualitative research is associated more with feminine qualities.


Question 01

Why might qualitative researchers regard interviewing an attractive alternative to participant observation?

a) It is easier to accommodate into the researchers personal life.

b) It gives a better insight into the day to day functioning of the research site.

c) It is a considerably less time-consuming process.

#'I made every ef

#Numbers vs. Wo

#The emphasis th

d) It reduces the problem of reactivity.

Question 02

Which of the following is a quality associated with qualitative interviewing as opposed to quantitative interviewing?

a) Replicability.

b) Generalizability.

c) Flexibility.

d) Sustainability.

Question 03

What is the difference between the types of answers that qualitative and quantitative interviews look to generate?

a) Qualitative interviews aim to generate one word answers, whereas quantitative

interviews aim to generate in-depth responses. b) Qualitative interviews aim to generate answers relating to any unspecified topic,

whereas quantitative interviews aim to generate answers about one issue. c) Qualitative interviews aim to generate detailed answers to certain questions,

whereas quantitative interviews aim to generate shorter, more easily codifiable responses.

d) Qualitative interviews aim to generate predictable responses, whereas

quantitative interviews aim to generate less predictable answers.

Question 04

Which of the following researchers is conducting a semi-structured interview?

a) The researcher who has a schedule of fifty questions that they need answered by

the participant. b) The researcher who has planned only one question in advance.

c) The researcher who does not wish to use a tape recorder.

d) The researcher who has a guide which states some specific topics to be covered.

Question 05

Which of the following is not a specific challenge facing business researchers who wish to conduct qualitative interviews?

#It is easier to ac

#Replicability.#Ge

#Qualitative interv

#The researcher

a) Scheduling time with a senior manager.

b) Managers unwillingness to allow subordinates to leave productive activity.

c) The scarcity of potential research sites.

d) Maintaining confidentiality and anonymity at all stages of the research project.

Question 06

According to Kvale (1996) a successful interviewer is being sensitive when they:

a) relate what is said to what has been said.

b) listen attentively to what is said and how it is said.

c) give a purpose for the interview and rounding it off.

d) respond to what is important to interviewee.

Question 07

Why should a business researcher record and transcribe interviews?

a) It allows a more thorough examination of what the interviewee has said.

b) It allows the researcher to demonstrate their technical proficiency.

c) The response of participants can be more readily shared with senior

management. d) It overcomes all possible ethical considerations.

Question 08

A practical tip for transcribing interviews is to:

a) get the respondent to do it.

b) transcribe only those sections of an interview that are important.

c) invest in the latest voice recognition software.


Question 09

Which of the following is an example of a dilemma that might face feminist business researchers conducting qualitative interviews with women?

a) What role to adopt when interviewing male managers?

#Scheduling time

#relate w hat is sa

#It allow s a more

#get the respond

b) How many female employees should be interviewed for a representative sample?

c) How to overcome the issue of false consciousness?

d) What data to use when publishing findings?

Question 10

Why does qualitative interviewing have an advantage over participant observation when it comes to longitudinal research?

a) Repeat interviews are easier to organise.

b) It allows for a better exploration of key issues.

c) It is a more focused research method.

d) Participant observers are prone to 'go native' during longitudinal research.

Question 01

Which of the following is not a characterization of the natural sciences?

a) The natural sciences are possessed with an epistemological unity.

b) The natural sciences are a complex area just like the social sciences.

c) The practices of natural scientists are revealed in their written accounts.

d) All natural scientists can be charged with the term positivist.

Question 02

Qualitative research often adheres to a natural science model because:

a) it rejects all attempts to deduce theory in advance.

b) it places a large degree of emphasis on understanding context.

c) it can be used to investigate specific and tightly defined problems.

d) it is always constructivist in nature.

Question 03

In what way does quantitative research study meaning?

a) Through detailed description of context.

b) Through careful observation of specific actions in the workplace.

c) Through an attempt to reveal the influence of capitalist structures on everyday life.

#What role to ado

#The natural scie

#it rejects all attem

d) Through the exploration of attitudes via extensive survey questions.

Question 04

Why is it problematic to suggest that the choice of business research method reveals ontological and epistemological assumptions?

a) Because business research should not be concerned with these issues.

b) Because the correspondence between a research strategy and a set of

ontological and epistemological assumptions is not straight forward. c) Because the choice of research method is dictated by the research question.

d) Because the correspondence between a research strategy and either ontology or

epistemology is impossible to define.

Question 05

Quantitative research does not always adhere to a deductive model because:

a) Its findings frequently suggest new departures and theoretical contributions.

b) Many survey-based studies are subjected to exploratory analyses.

c) There is a great deal of creativity in quantitative data analysis.


Question 06

Which method of data collection commonly associated with qualitative research can be seen as artificial?

a) Ethnography.

b) Participant observation.

c) Semi-structured interview.


Question 07

What does Gephart (1988) mean by the term ethnostatistics?

a) The collection of statistical data using ethnographic methods.

b) The study of the use of statistics as a rhetorical device.

c) The use of statistical analysis by the participants of the research.

#Through detailed

#Because busine

#Its f indings frequ

#Ethnography.#P

d) The statistical analysis of one specific context.

Question 08

Which form of data analysis can be applied to ethnographic accounts to establish links between in-depth accounts and statistical analysis?

a) Discourse analysis.

b) Content analysis.

c) Mulitvariate analysis.

d) Bivariate analysis.

Question 09

What is quasi-quantification?

a) Statistical analysis based upon synthetic data.

b) The application of quantitative methods in feminist research.

c) The allusions to quantity made by qualitative researchers.

d) The testing of the suitability of specific statistical tests.

Question 10

What benefit is there to qualitative researchers in providing information on the frequency of a particular perspective?

a) They are more likely to get published if they can report a high frequency.

b) It gives the reader a clear sense of the relative prevalence of the perspective.

c) It is useful for quantitative secondary analysis.


Question 01

When writing up which of the following do quantitative researchers pay more attention to?

a) Ontological concerns.

b) The role of the researcher.

c) The approach to analysis.


#The collection of

#Discourse analy

#Statistical analys

Question 02

What is an implication of peer review on writing journal articles?

a) It is likely the article will have been revised from its original form.

b) It means that the first draft can be a basic synopsis of the main arguments.

c) It means the article should cite those who will review it.

d) It is important to make friends in the academic community.

Question 03

What route do Coyle-Shaprio and Kessler (2000) follow in their theory and hypotheses section?

a) Emphasis of inductive nature of research followed by tentative research

questions. b) Statement of epistemological position followed by hypothesis identification.

c) Identification of existing literature followed by review of sampling procedures.

d) Presentation of existing ideas about topic followed by hypothesis proposal.

Question 04

Which of the following is not a rhetorical strategy used in the writing up of quantitative research?

a) The researcher surfaces in the text to demonstrate ingenuity in overcoming

obstacles. b) Key figures in the field are not mentioned in order to differentiate research from

existing studies. c) The researcher is removed from the text to give impression of objectivity.

d) The research process is presented as a linear process.

Question 05

Why might an author use string references?

a) To denote the chronological development of the field of study.

b) To group authors according to indicate a theoretical association.

c) To measure the volume of existing material in the field of study.

#Ontological conc

#It is likely the art

#Emphasis of ind

#The researcher


Question 06

What is a common element of 'implications' sections in the writing up of business research?

a) How the research relates to business students.

b) How the research informs the wider social scientific community.

c) What is the benefit of the research to organised labour?

d) What is the benefit of the research to managers?

Question 07

The impact of postmodernism on the writing of business research has been:

a) to question the necessity of publishing findings.

b) to question the necessity of referencing other work.

c) to question the notion of the dispassionate social scientist.

d) to question the very nature of business research.

Question 08

When writing up research, discussing the implications of chosen methods, values, biases and decisions encountered during the research process is evidence of what?

a) Validity.

b) Reflexivity.

c) Constructivity.

d) Epistemology.

Question 09

Which of the following is not a type of ethnographic writing identified by Van Maanen (1988)?

a) Humorous tales.

b) Confessional tales.

c) Impressionist tales.

#To denote the ch

#How the resear

#to question the n

#Validity.#Reflexi

d) Realist tales.

Question 10

Interpretative omnipotence refers to a researcher:

a) writing accounts that are immune to criticism.

b) being unwilling to present the interpretation of research participants.

c) presenting the phenomena in question as having a single meaning.

d) using religious symbolism in the writing up of their research.

#Humorous tales.

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