Question 1

According to the fair use doctrine
A) plagiarism is not an issue in the business world-it is a problem only in schools and academic circles.
B) once material is made public, it no longer belongs to the author.
C) you can use other people's work only if you don't prevent them from benefiting as a result.
D) crediting sources is all that is necessary to avoid legal problems.

Accepted Answer

The fair use doctrine allows for the use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, as long as it does not prevent the copyright owner from benefiting financially from their work. Therefore, option C correctly summarizes the key concept of the fair use doctrine. Options A, B, and D are incorrect as plagiarism is a serious issue in the business world, material still belongs to the author even after being made public and crediting sources alone may not be sufficient to avoid legal problems.

Question 2

At the beginning of a research project, you need to
A) develop the conclusion you want to reach and start looking for evidence that supports that conclusion.
B) just jump in by finding resources on the Internet and taking notes from them.
C) develop a formal outline that you plan to stick to throughout your researching and writing.
D) familiarize yourself with the subject.

Accepted Answer

Familiarizing yourself with the subject is critical at the beginning of a research project. This will help you to determine the scope of your research and identify potential sources. It will also provide you with a foundation of knowledge that will aid in your analysis and interpretation of the data you uncover. Developing a conclusion, choosing resources based on personal bias or convenience, or developing a formal outline prematurely can all be counterproductive and limit the scope of your research.

Question 3

You would not need to cite a source if you have
A) provided general knowledge about your topic.
B) described, in your own words, a plan for organizing production lines, which appeared in a professional journal.
C) used a table from the 1985 Farmer's Almanac.
D) used a direct quotation of under 250 words from a book titled Modern Economics.

Accepted Answer

If the information is common knowledge or widely accepted as fact, it does not require a citation.

Question 4

A metacrawler is
A) a special type of engine that searches several search engines at once.
B) a type of aggregator that offers subscribers all-day information on their desktops.
C) a highly specialized directory that focuses on a specific subject matter area.
D) a search engine that examines only newsgroup messages.

Accepted Answer

A metacrawler is a search engine that uses multiple search engines at once, allowing users to receive results from several sources in one place.

Question 5

When conducting a database search, you use wildcards to
A) provide variations on your key terms.
B) find similar spellings of your search terms.
C) help you find plurals and alternative spellings of your key words.
D) do all of the above.

Accepted Answer

Wildcards can be used to provide variations on key terms, find similar spellings, and help find plurals and alternative spellings of key words. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 6

Bing is an example of a
A) search engine.
B) web directory.
C) metacrawler.
D) none of the above.

Accepted Answer

Bing is a search engine, which means it uses algorithms to search for relevant web pages and other content based on user queries. Web directories are organized collections of links to websites, while metacrawlers search multiple search engines simultaneously.

Question 7

Innovations in research technology allow you to
A) access all online databases free of charge.
B) completely avoid unreliable information on the web.
C) rely exclusively on standard search engines, regardless of your needs.
D) find webpages and also the documents webpages that are linked to those sites.

Accepted Answer

Innovations in research technology have allowed for tools such as web crawlers and link analysis software, which enable researchers to not only find webpages related to their search terms but also the documents that are linked to those webpages. This allows for more thorough research and the ability to access a wider range of information. While there are still issues with unreliable information on the web, these tools can help researchers sift through the information to find credible sources. However, access to online databases may not necessarily be free of charge, and relying on standard search engines alone may not be sufficient for all research needs.

Question 8

You create a survey and administer it five times under identical conditions. Because it yielded completely different results each time, you should conclude that this survey is
A) not reliable.
B) not valid.
C) valid
D) reliable

Accepted Answer

The fact that the survey yielded completely different results each time indicates that the results are not consistent or reliable. This suggests that there may be issues with the survey questions or administration process that need to be addressed in order to increase the survey's reliability.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a characteristic of online databases?
A) Using them requires knowledge of basic search techniques.
B) They offer access to many materials that are not accessible through standard search engines.
C) They often categorize information by subject area.
D) Most of them are available free of charge.

Accepted Answer

Although some online databases may be free, not all of them are available free of charge. Many online databases require users to pay a subscription fee in order to access their content.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true of conventional search engines?
A) They return to previously identified websites to look for changes.
B) They travel the web automatically, identifying new websites.
C) They access the deep Internet or hidden Internet.
D) Not all search engines operate in the same way.

Accepted Answer

Conventional search engines do not typically access the deep Internet or hidden Internet, which refers to content that is not indexed by regular search engines and may require special permissions or protocols to access.

Question 11

In evaluating material you have gathered for a report, you should
A) assume that any information taken from a webpage will be credible and reliable.
B) check to make sure the material is current.
C) ignore government documents.
D) throw out any information whose source is an organization that might be biased.

Accepted Answer

It is important to check the currency of the material, as outdated information may not be relevant or accurate. A, C, and D are not recommended strategies for evaluating material, as assuming credibility based on a webpage, ignoring government documents, and throwing out information from potentially biased sources can all lead to a lack of objectivity and thoroughness in the research process.

Question 12

A problem statement
A) is an unsupportable claim or assertion.
B) defines the purpose of your research.
C) should be long and complex.
D) outlines all the potential drawbacks of your research.

Accepted Answer

A problem statement defines the purpose of your research and describes the issue or problem you are trying to solve. It should be clear, concise, and specific. A is incorrect because a problem statement is not an unsupportable claim or assertion. C and D are incorrect because a problem statement should not be unnecessarily long and complex or only focus on potential drawbacks.

Question 13

Which of these documents would not qualify as primary research?
A) A recent survey of your company's top clients
B) The most recent issue of a trade magazine in your industry
C) Your company's latest balance sheet
D) Notes from a conversation you recently had with a local government official

Accepted Answer

The most recent issue of a trade magazine in your industry is a secondary source, as it was created by someone other than yourself for a different purpose than your research project. The other options all involve gathering new and original data, making them primary sources.

Question 14

Unlike Internet search engines, online databases
A) can be accessed only from a library.
B) are rarely up to date.
C) often provide access to various parts of the hidden Internet.
D) do not require a subscription.

Accepted Answer

Online databases often provide access to various parts of the hidden internet that cannot be accessed through traditional search engines. This is because these databases are specifically curated and managed by professionals in the field, providing more specialized and in-depth information.

(Note: Answers A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately describe online databases.)

Question 15

Sources of secondary information include
A) in-person interviews.
B) experiments.
C) newspapers and periodicals.
D) first-hand observation.

Accepted Answer

Newspapers and periodicals are examples of secondary information sources as they provide information that has been previously published or reported by others. In-person interviews and first-hand observation are examples of primary information sources, while experiments are a type of research method.

Question 16

If you are researching a topic on which new material appears frequently, you should
A) use only metacrawlers for your search to ensure the accuracy of your sources.
B) explain to the audience that you simply couldn't keep up with all of the new information.
C) take advantage of search engines, but stay away from most databases .
D) consider using online monitoring tools so that you will automatically get new information as it comes out.

Accepted Answer

Online monitoring tools can be set up to automatically notify you when new information is released, making it easier to stay up to date on a topic that has frequent updates. Simply relying on search engines may not be sufficient, as they may not always capture the most recent information. Using databases in combination with monitoring tools can also be effective for keeping up to date.

Question 17

A web directory differs from a search engine in that
A) it doesn't include Usenet newsgroups.
B) it usually locates more sites than a search engine.
C) human editors find and index the websites to include.
D) it doesn't provide as precise results as a search engine.

Accepted Answer

A web directory is typically compiled by human editors who review and categorize websites based on their content, whereas a search engine uses algorithms to crawl and index websites automatically. This means that a web directory may have a more curated and organized set of results, but may not be as comprehensive as a search engine. Additionally, a search engine can often provide more precise results tailored to a specific query.

Question 18

To conduct an effective database search
A) avoid Boolean operators because they provide only mathematical results.
B) choose one search engine and stick with it.
C) think before you search about questions such as where useful information might be found.
D) use long search phrases in quotes rather than short phrases or single terms.

Accepted Answer

Thinking about where useful information might be found can help narrow your search and focus on relevant sources. Choosing a specific search engine may limit your results, and using long search phrases may exclude potentially relevant results. Boolean operators are useful for combining search terms and are commonly used in database searching.

Question 19

The two most common primary research methods in the social sciences are
A) surveys and interviews.
B) experiments and observations.
C) test panels.
D) not appropriate for test marketing.

Accepted Answer

Surveys and interviews are the most commonly used primary research methods in the social sciences. Surveys involve collecting data from a sample population through questionnaires, while interviews involve collecting information through face-to-face conversations with individuals or groups. Both methods are effective in gathering data about people's opinions, attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. Experimentation and observation are also common methods in the social sciences, but they are not as widely used as surveys and interviews. Test panels are used in marketing research but are not specific to the social sciences.

Question 20

Primary research refers to
A) new research done specifically for your current project.
B) the research you conduct first.
C) research that is fairly easy to conduct.
D) the evidence that stands out in your report.

Accepted Answer

Primary research refers to new research that is conducted specifically for the current project. It involves collecting original data through methods such as surveys, interviews, and observations, rather than relying on existing sources of information.

Quiz 11: Finding, Evaluating, and Processing Information

According to the fair use doctrine

At the beginning of a research project, you need to

You would not need to cite a source if you have

A metacrawler is

When conducting a database search, you use wildcards to

Bing is an example of a

Innovations in research technology allow you to

You create a survey and administer it five times under identical conditions. Because it yielded completely different results each time, you should conclude that this survey is

Which of the following is not a characteristic of online databases?

Which of the following is not true of conventional search engines?

In evaluating material you have gathered for a report, you should

A problem statement

Which of these documents would not qualify as primary research?

Unlike Internet search engines, online databases

Sources of secondary information include

If you are researching a topic on which new material appears frequently, you should

A web directory differs from a search engine in that

To conduct an effective database search

The two most common primary research methods in the social sciences are

Primary research refers to