Question 1

A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?
A) How do you think electronic reports will change your job?
B) What is the future of paper?
C) Do you think having paperless reports is worth the effort required to learn the new software?
D) Why do you write reports?

Accepted Answer

This question is likely to elicit a detailed response from the senior writer about the specific ways in which their job will be impacted by the transition to electronic reports. It also allows the writer to gain insight into potential challenges and benefits of the transition. The other options are either too broad or not directly related to the topic at hand.

Question 2

Chapter 6 recommends asking clear, focused, and open questions when conducting an interview. Which of the following is an example of a clear, focused, and open question?
A) Do you agree with the federal government's stance on net neutrality?
B) In your opinion, what are the advantages of net neutrality?
C) What is the history of net neutrality?
D) How important is net neutrality?

Accepted Answer

This question is clear and focused, as it specifically asks for the interviewee's opinion on the advantages of net neutrality. It is also open because it allows for a variety of answers rather than a simple yes/no response. The other options are not as clear, focused, or open.

Question 3

Which statement about wikis is true?
A) The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site can always be trusted to speak the truth.
B) The lack of editors on a wiki means that authors on the site may mix truth with fiction.
C) Wikis tend to represent a narrower spectrum of viewpoints than edited websites do.
D) Because a wiki's content is "crowd-sourced," wikis have better accountability than edited websites.

Accepted Answer

The lack of editors on a wiki means that anyone can contribute information, which may include opinions or misinformation. Therefore, it is important to fact-check information found on a wiki before accepting it as true.

Question 4

Which of these resources is NOT likely to appear in a library's online database?
A) proceedings from an annual academic conference
B) posts from a blog
C) articles from a magazine
D) articles from a national newspaper

Accepted Answer

Posts from a blog are less likely to appear in a library's online database compared to the other options listed. While some databases may include blog posts, they are generally not considered as reliable and scholarly sources as other options such as academic conference proceedings, magazine articles, and national newspaper articles.

Question 5

According to Chapter 6, in which phase of the writing process is it best to conduct research?
A) editing
B) revising
C) proofreading
D) planning

Accepted Answer

Conducting research is essential in the planning phase of the writing process. This is because research helps to gather relevant information and ideas, which can be organized and used to create an outline or plan for the writing project. Without proper research, the writing project may lack depth and credibility. Therefore, conducting research at the planning phase is crucial for effective writing.

Question 6

Which of the following types of research is LEAST like field research?
A) observations
B) inquiries
C) experiments
D) inspections

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following types of research...

Question 7

A writer is developing a questionnaire asking users about their experiences with a company's website. Which of the following questions is NOT flawed?
A) I was able to easily find answers to my questions.
Disagree _____ Neutral ____ Agree _____
B) Should we make this site better?
Yes ___ No ___
C) List the top three reasons you visit this site:
D) The flawed graphics made it hard for me to order parts using this site.
Yes __ No __

Accepted Answer

This is an open-ended question that allows the user to provide their own reasons for visiting the site, without leading them with specific options or language.

Answer: B 
 This question is flawed because it is overly vague and doesn't provide any context or specific areas for improvement. It also only offers "yes" or "no" as an answer, which doesn't allow for detailed feedback.

Answer: A 
 This question is appropriate because it asks about a specific aspect of the user's experience on the site (finding answers to questions) and provides a range of options for them to choose from.

Answer: D 
 This question is flawed because it uses subjective language ("flawed graphics") without defining what that means or providing specific examples. Additionally, it is a leading question because it suggests that the participant should have had difficulty using the site.

Question 8

According to Chapter 6, conducting an experiment involves four stages. One is reporting the data. Which of the following is NOT one of the other three?
A) duplicating the experiment
B) testing the hypothesis
C) establishing a hypothesis
D) analyzing the data

Accepted Answer

Duplicating the experiment is not one of the initial stages of conducting an experiment as outlined in Chapter 6. The stages include establishing a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, analyzing the data, and reporting the data. Duplicating or replicating an experiment is a subsequent step often involved in verifying results.

Question 9

You are writing a report about technical methods used for desalination of seawater. Which of these resources is LEAST likely to provide the technical information you need?
A) a website for professional water-treatment engineers
B) a book about industrial desalination
C) a discussion forum about ecology
D) a blog by a leading expert in desalination

Accepted Answer

A discussion forum about ecology is least likely to provide technical information about desalination methods. While the topic is related to water, the forum is focused on ecological discussions and not on technical details of desalination methods. The other resources listed are more likely to provide the technical information needed for the report.

Question 10

Your manager has asked you to recommend which one of two new types of digital camera to buy for your company's publications department. Which of the following is likely to be the best source of information for your report?
A) website
B) book
C) scholarly article
D) abstract service

Accepted Answer

A website is likely to provide the most up-to-date and relevant information about the two types of digital cameras, including technical specifications, user reviews, and comparisons. It may also provide pricing information and availability.

Question 11

Which word best describes the kind of information found in reference works?
A) exploratory
B) experimental
C) cutting-edge
D) foundational

Accepted Answer

Foundational is the best choice as reference works typically provide basic, essential information and serve as a starting point for further research rather than presenting the most current or experimental findings.

Question 12

What is the term for demographic information about individuals who use and follow social media?
A) big data
B) analysis
C) analytics
D) mined data

Accepted Answer

The term for demographic information about individuals who use and follow social media is analytics. Analytics refers to the process of gathering and analyzing data in order to make informed decisions. In the case of social media, analytics can provide insights into the characteristics and behaviors of the platform's users.

Question 13

Which source reflects the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America?
A) an article in an encyclopedia
B) an article in a national newspaper
C) an article in a journal on geological research
D) an article in a journal on public policy

Accepted Answer

An article in a journal on geological research would reflect the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America as it would contain information and research conducted by experts in the field of geology.

Question 14

You are interviewing the mayor of your city for a report on the prospects for high-tech manufacturing there. Which of the following questions will be most effective in an interview?
A) Are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies?
B) How well are tax incentives helping to retain expanding companies?
C) How long have you been the mayor?
D) Do companies complain about the tax system here?

Accepted Answer

Question B is most effective because it asks for a detailed evaluation of the impact of tax incentives on retaining expanding companies, encouraging a more informative and nuanced response.

Question 15

Which research method gives the researcher the LEAST amount of control?
A) field research
B) interviews
C) experiments
D) inquiries

Accepted Answer

Field research involves observing and studying participants in their natural environments, which gives the researcher the least amount of control over the variables being studied. In contrast, experiments involve more control over variables and conditions, making them a more controlled research method. Interviews and inquiries involve some level of control as the researcher can structure the questions being asked.

Question 16

You are writing a report analyzing whether your company should hire a new vendor to provide data-warehousing services. You have found a white paper online that looks promising. How can you judge the degree to which the authors are unbiased?
A) Check to see if the authors have offices in the same cities as your potential data-service vendors.
B) Check to see if the authors work as industry-wide consultants or as contractors for specific vendors.
C) Check to see if the authors have advanced degrees.
D) Check to see if the authors appear to be related to each other.

Accepted Answer

Checking if the authors work as industry-wide consultants or as contractors for specific vendors is the best way to judge their degree of bias. If they are consultants working with multiple vendors, they are more likely to provide an unbiased perspective. If they are contractors for a specific vendor, they may have a vested interest in promoting that vendor's services. The other options do not necessarily provide insight into the authors' potential biases.

Question 17

Books are a common type of secondary research source. Chapter 6 identifies four other secondary research sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
A) periodicals
B) newspapers
C) government documents
D) library catalogs

Accepted Answer

Library catalogs are not considered a source of secondary research themselves; rather, they are tools used to locate secondary (and primary) sources such as books, periodicals, and government documents.

Question 18

Which source is LEAST likely to be valuable when you have a question about new trends in the semiconductor industry?
A) an encyclopedia
B) a journal article published this year
C) a blog written by an analyst who covers the semiconductor industry
D) the website for a semiconductor magazine

Accepted Answer

While an encyclopedia may provide a broad overview of the semiconductor industry, it may not be up-to-date on the latest trends and developments. The other sources listed are more likely to provide current information.

Question 19

According to Chapter 6, which of these is NOT a tool for secondary research?
A) library catalog
B) web search engine
C) online database
D) experiment

Accepted Answer

The other options (library catalog, web search engine, online database) are all examples of tools for secondary research, while an experiment is a tool for primary research.

Quiz 6: Researching Your Subject

A writer who is researching a state agency's transition from paper-based reports to electronic reports has scheduled an interview with a senior writer at the agency. Which of the following interview questions is likely to be most effective?

Chapter 6 recommends asking clear, focused, and open questions when conducting an interview. Which of the following is an example of a clear, focused, and open question?

Which statement about wikis is true?

Which of these resources is NOT likely to appear in a library's online database?

According to Chapter 6, in which phase of the writing process is it best to conduct research?

Which of the following types of research is LEAST like field research?

A writer is developing a questionnaire asking users about their experiences with a company's website. Which of the following questions is NOT flawed?

According to Chapter 6, conducting an experiment involves four stages. One is reporting the data. Which of the following is NOT one of the other three?

You are writing a report about technical methods used for desalination of seawater. Which of these resources is LEAST likely to provide the technical information you need?

Your manager has asked you to recommend which one of two new types of digital camera to buy for your company's publications department. Which of the following is likely to be the best source of information for your report?

Which word best describes the kind of information found in reference works?

What is the term for demographic information about individuals who use and follow social media?

Which source reflects the highest degree of authority on the subject of shale-oil deposits in North America?

You are interviewing the mayor of your city for a report on the prospects for high-tech manufacturing there. Which of the following questions will be most effective in an interview?

Which research method gives the researcher the LEAST amount of control?

You are writing a report analyzing whether your company should hire a new vendor to provide data-warehousing services. You have found a white paper online that looks promising. How can you judge the degree to which the authors are unbiased?

Books are a common type of secondary research source. Chapter 6 identifies four other secondary research sources. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

Which source is LEAST likely to be valuable when you have a question about new trends in the semiconductor industry?

According to Chapter 6, which of these is NOT a tool for secondary research?