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Chapter 5
RESEARCH DESIGN
GENERAL CONCEPT MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.
General Mills conducted research on a "new, improved" version of their cereal, TRIX. Consumer
taste tests showed the new version was preferred over the old TRIX, but the new version was a
failure when it was introduced. It was noted that the research was flawed in that the new version of
TRIX was compared with the old TRIX, a choice that consumers in the marketplace would not
have. The correct research should have compared the new TRIX with competitor brands. This
example was presented in your text to illustrate:
a. poor budgeting for research
b. how researchers in large firms are in "silos" and are not open to outside suggestions
c. how former research studies often determine the design of present studies
d. improper research design
e. a case where exploratory research should have been undertaken after the causal research
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4.
If the research objective is to gain background information, it is likely that the most appropriate
research design would be:
a. exploitive
b. exhaustive
c. exploratory
d. deductive
e. causal
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8.
Which of the following is NOT a situation in which exploratory research should be used?
a. to clarify problems
b. to measure the relationships among variables
c. to establish research priorities
d. to gain background information
e. to clarify hypotheses
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13.
The process of searching for and interpreting existing information relevant to the research problem
can be described as:
a. an experience survey
b. secondary data analysis
c. causal analysis
d. exploitive research
e. exhaustive research
Which of the following is a type of exploratory research that refers to a review of available
information about a former situation(s) that has some similarities to the present research problem?
a. secondary data analysis
b. experience surveys
c. case analysis
d. projective techniques
e. ex post facto studies
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17.
Small groups of people brought together and guided by a moderator through an unstructured,
spontaneous discussion for the purpose of gaining information relevant to the research problem can
be categorized under which type of research design?
a. causal research
b. exploratory research
c. deductive research
d. exploitive research
e. exhaustive research
What type of research design does the text state should almost always be used in research studies?
a. exploratory research
b. causal research
c.
explicit research
d.
exhaustive research
e.
descriptive research
What type of research design should a marketing researcher use to find out how many customers
there are, what brands they buy and in what quantities, which advertisements they recall, what are
their attitudes toward the company, and who is the competition?
a. exploratory research
b. causal research
c. explicit research
d. exhaustive research
e. descriptive research
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21.
What are the two basic types of studies that are categorized as descriptive research?
a. focus groups and case analysis
b. longitudinal studies and case analysis
c. longitudinal studies and cross-sectional studies
d. focus groups and cross-sectional studies
e. case analysis and experiments
What type of descriptive research study measures a population at only one point in time?
a. sample surveys
b. cross-sectional studies
c. longitudinal studies
d. A and B are correct.
e. B and C are correct.
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26.
What type of panel asks the panel members the same questions on each panel measurement?
a. continuous panel
b. inquisitional panel
c. discontinuous panel
d. repeatability panel
e. exploratory panel
Of the following situations, which would be the most appropriate for using a discontinuous panel?
a. to gain insights into changes in consumers' purchases and attitudes
b. to determine if members of the panel switched brands from one time period to the next
c. to determine how consumers feel about two different product concepts by varying panel questions
from one panel measurement to the next
d. to measure changes in market shares of brands
e. All of the above
What type of research design should a researcher use if he or she wishes to determine the effect of a
change in price on the sales of a particular brand?
a. exploitive
b. longitudinal
c. causal
d. exploratory
e. discontinuous
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31.
In an experiment, over which type of variable does a researcher have control and wish to
manipulate?
a. dependent variable
b. independent variable
c. extraneous variable
d. complex variable
e. All of the above
When a variable exerts influence on the dependent variable and is not an independent variable we
refer to it as a(n):
a. influencing variable
b. unwanted variable
c. complex variable
d. extraneous variable
e. effect variable
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35.
Which of the following symbols represents the measurement of the complex variable?
a. O
b. X
c. C
d. Z
e. None of the above
Which of the following symbols represents the measurement of the dependent variable?
a. D
b. X
c. C
d. O
e. I
Which of the following symbols represents the change or manipulation of the independent variable?
a. I
b. D
c. C
d. M
e. X
Which of the following designs represents the BeforeAfter with Control Group design?
a. X O C
b. E = I X O
c. E = O X O
d. X = E + X + O
e. None of the above
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40.
What type of experimental validity is concerned with the extent that the relationship observed
between the independent and dependent variable during the experiment is generalizable to the real
world?
a. internal validity
b. external validity
c. extraneous validity
d. causal validity
e. confirmed validity
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44.
What type of experiment involves manipulating the independent variable and measuring the
dependent variable in an artificial setting contrived to control extraneous variables?
a. laboratory experiments
b. field experiments
c. extraneous experiments
d. artificial experiments
e. All of the above
What type of experiment involves manipulating the independent variable and measuring the
dependent variable in a natural setting?
a. extraneous experiments
b. laboratory experiments
c. field experiments
d. naturalistic experiments
e. eco-experiments
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48.
What type of test marketing should be used when a firm wants to test the product and/or marketing
mix variables through the company's normal distribution channels?
a. controlled test markets
b. standard test markets
c. electronic test markets
d. simulated test markets
e. norm test markets
What type of test markets are conducted by outside research firms who guarantee distribution of the
product through prespecified types and numbers of distributors?
a. electronic test markets
b. controlled test markets
c. standard test markets
d. simulated test markets
e. guaranteed distribution test markets
In what type of situation should a marketing researcher consider using "lead country" test
marketing?
a. in domestic markets with similar demographic and cultural characteristics
b. in situations where the firm is interested in introducing its products and services globally
c. in situations where specific foreign countries seem to be good predictors for an entire continent
for introducing a company's products or services
d. B and C are correct.
e. A and C are correct.
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52.
Which of the following best represents the criteria discussed by the authors to be used in selection
of a test market city?
a. representativeness, isolation, and cost
b. representativeness, existing company presence, and control of promotion
c. representativeness, isolation, and control of distribution and promotion
d. representativeness, cost, and control of competitor's intelligence
e. isolation, cost, effectiveness, and control
Which of the following best represents the disadvantages of conducting test markets as discussed by
the authors?
a. cost, competitor intervention, and government regulations of test markets
b. infallibility of results, cost, and exposure of product/service to competition and ethical issues
c. cost, delay in getting to the market first, and competitive awareness of the product/service
d. relying on consumers in only one market, using distributors who "know" there is a test, biased
results arising from too much executive time being allocated to the test as opposed to normal
market conditions
e. Disadvantages were not discussed in the textbook.
Marketing research projects vary widely; some are taste tests in "kitchen-like" labs while others
may be confined to library research.
Research design is confined to predetermining how data are to be analyzed. It is primarily the
responsibility of statisticians.
Knowledge of research design is helpful because certain designs can be matched with certain
problems and this provides a blueprint for the researcher.
The choice of a research design depends largely upon the research objectives.
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58.
The four research designs are exploratory, exploitive, descriptive, and longitudinal.
Research designs should always be carried out, one after another, in the following order:
exploratory, descriptive, and longitudinal.
Exploratory research is best utilized when little is known about the problem.
Hypotheses are statements describing speculated relationships among two or more variables.
Exploratory research can be used to help define terms such as understanding exactly what
satisfaction with service is.
Descriptive or causal research is best used to help gain background information about the problem.
Experience surveys are carried out in order to assess the experience levels of several marketing
research firms in order to select the most appropriate firm to conduct the project.
68.
Focus groups are small groups of people brought together and guided by a moderator through an
unstructured, spontaneous discussion for the purpose of gaining information relevant to the research
problem.
Answer: (True)
69.
Projective techniques are so called because they ask participants to project themselves into some
situation and to then respond to specific questions about that situation.
Descriptive research consists of exploratory research, primary research, and secondary research.
Because descriptive research asks who, what, where, when, and how, it also provides conclusive
answers to why.
Page: 123
Dirt Devil conducted a one-time survey of consumers and asked them about their attitudes,
preferences, and intentions regarding buying vacuum cleaners. This is an example of a crosssectional study.
Longitudinal studies are called such because they are long, very complex surveys taken at one point
in time and having such large sample sizes as to require several months to complete the data
analysis.
Several online research firms such as Lightspeed Research and Kidzeyes use panels as a means of
conducting online survey research.
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76.
Discontinuous panels provide data that may be used for brand-switching studies.
The advantage of the discontinuous panel is they represent a large grouppeople, stores, or other
entity making up the panelthat is agreeable to providing information.
In the example of brand-switching data provided in the textbook (Pooch Plus dog treats), crosssectional study analysis provided a totally different conclusion than did the longitudinal data
analysis.
Market tracking studies track some variable of interest, such as market share over time, and
represent a use of cross-sectional studies.
Independent variables are those over which the experimenter has some control; in other words,
independent variables may be manipulated by the experimenter.
Dependent variables are those over which the experimenter has total, direct control; they may be
easily manipulated by experimenters.
Complex variables are those that have some effect upon the dependent variable but yet are not
independent variables.
85.
Experimental designs provide procedures for devising an experimental setting, such that a change in
a dependent variable may be attributed solely to the change in the independent variable.
Experimental designs provide procedures for devising an experimental setting such that a change in
an independent variable may be attributed solely to the change in the dependent variable while
controlling for the effects of complex variables.
In experimental design nomenclature, an E represents the experimental effect: that is, the change in
the dependent variable occurs due to a change in the independent variable.
A pretest refers to measuring the dependent variable prior to changing the independent variable.
Designs that do not control for the effects of extraneous variables are known as quasi-experimental
designs.
The dependent variable is always manipulated in the experimental group but never in the control
group.
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94.
The reason for using randomization or matching in experimental designs is to achieve equivalency
between experimental and control groups.
Internal validity, carried out through field experiments, measures the extent to which the
relationship between independent, dependent, and complex variables hold up in the real world.
ACNielsen conducts experiments but they do not rely on the use of experimental design concepts
such as experimental and control groups.
If an experiment did not have a representative sample, this would be considered a threat to the
experiment's external validity.
If an experiment did not have equivalent experimental and control groups, this would be considered
a threat to the experiment's external validity.
103. Test marketing is the phrase commonly used to indicate an experiment, study, or test that is
conducted in a field setting.
Answer: (True) Difficulty: (Easy) Page: 133
104. There is only one use of test markets: to determine the sales potential for a new product or service.
Answer: (False) Difficulty: (Moderate) Page: 133
105. Electronic test markets require consumers, who are members of a panel, to carry identification
cards.
Answer: (True) Difficulty: (Moderate) Page: 134
106. Simulated test markets are conducted on computers without any consumer input.
Answer: (False) Difficulty: (Difficult) Page: 134
107. Because all products eventually end up in the consumer market, there is no such thing as industrial
test markets.
Answer: (False) Difficulty: (Easy) Page: 135
108. A city that is geographically isolated may be considered a good test market city.
Answer: (True) Difficulty: (Moderate)
Page: 136
109. Test markets do not yield infallible results. Sometimes test markets lead to the wrong decision.
Answer: (True) Difficulty: (Easy) Page: 137
110. A firm selects a test market city that it believes will give them very favorable results because it
knows the media will publicize the "success" of the new test product. This may be considered stupid
but it would not be considered to be unethical.
Answer: (False) Difficulty: (Moderate) Page: 137
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APPLICATION QUESTIONS
111. Dirt Devil vacuum cleaning company is interested in knowing if a proposed advertising message
will be effective in generating interest in purchasing their portable vacuum cleaner. They contact
marketing research firm InsightExpress, which has a service that tests proposed ad copy with
consumers they have recruited to participate. Copies of the ad are prepared and are shown to several
hundred consumers online. Consumers evaluate the ad and the results are given to Dirt Devil. This is
an example of which of the following?
a. longitudinal research
b. causal research
c. experimental research
d. exhaustive research
e. cross-sectional research
Answer: (e) Difficulty: (Moderate) Page: 122
112. Your university decides it will create a panel of consumers in your local area. The purpose of the
panel is to report the local population's attitudes, preferences, and intentions on a variety of local
issues. In the first administration of the panel, the questions asked for voter preferences for an
upcoming local election. In the second administration, questions submitted to the panel asked for
their attitudes about the quality of the drinking water and air in your area. Which type of panel has
your university created?
a.
continuous panel
b.
inquisitional panel
c.
discontinuous panel
d.
repeatability panel
e.
exploratory panel
Answer: (c) Difficulty: (Moderate) Page: 124
113. Mack Trucks decides to conduct an experiment to determine if a new oil additive actually results in
increased fuel efficiency. They find a lab that contains 50 engines that are exactly alike. Mack
randomly divides the 50 engines into two groupsan experimental group (which has the new oil
additive) and the control group (which does not have the new oil additive). They then pour the exact
same amount of fuel into all 50 engines and time how long each engine runs. Afterward, they
average the length of time run by the 25 engines in the control group versus the 25 engines in the
experimental group. Which of the following represents the experimental design in this study?
a.
X O1
b.
O 1 X O2
c.
(R) O1 X O2
(R) O3
O4
d.
(R) O1 X O2
(R) O3 D O4
e.
(R) O1
O2
(R) O3
D O4
Answer: (c) Difficulty: (Difficult) Page: 130
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114. Which of the following best describes the logic used in the BeforeAfter with Control Group
experimental design that allows this design to be a true experimental design?
a.
The experimental group change (O2 O1) contains the change in the independent variable
due to a. the dependent variable and b. extraneous variables. When we subtract from this the
control group (O4 O3), which is the change due to the extraneous variables, we are left
with the change due solely to the dependent variable.
b.
The experimental group change (O2 O1) contains the change in the complex variable due
to a. the dependent variable and b. extraneous variables. When we subtract from this the
control group (O4 O3), which is the change due to the extraneous variables, we are left
with the change due solely to the complex variable.
c.
The control group change (O2 O1) contains the change in the independent variable due to
a. the dependent variable and b. extraneous variables. When we subtract from this the
experimental group (O4 O3), which is the change due to the extraneous variables, we are
left with the change due solely to the dependent variable.
d.
The experimental group change (O2 O1) contains the change in the dependent variable due
to a. the dependent variable and b. extraneous variables. When we subtract from this the
control group (O4 O3), which is the change due to the extraneous variables, we are left
with the change due solely to the dependent variable.
e.
The experimental group change (O2 O1) contains the change in the dependent variable due
to a. the dependent variable and b. extraneous variables. When we subtract from this the
control group (O4 O3), which is the change due to the extraneous variables, we are left
with the change in the dependent variable due solely to the independent variable.
Answer: (e) Difficulty: (Difficult) Page: 130
115. TechTrician, Inc. makes a major breakthrough in cell phone technology and design. Their research
and development department has created advanced micro-circuitry that is a hundred times more
sensitive to cell signals than conventional cell phones. This means that there is almost never a break
in cell phone signals even when the caller is several miles from what would be considered "in range"
for conventional phones. The problem is that the new technology adds about $100 to the cost of the
phone. TechTrician, Inc. must spend a considerable amount of funds to retool in order to produce the
new phones. They decide to test market the new phones. The company is located in Los Angeles and
several executives believe it would be less costly to run the test market in their own city. However,
Bob Brobst, one of the marketing managers has argued for running at least two test markets; one in
Phoenix, AZ, and one in Tulsa, OK. What criterion for test market selection is Bob Brobst using?
a. representativeness
b. degree of isolation
c. control over media
d. control over distribution
e. lower costs
Answer: (b) Difficulty: (Difficult) Page: 136
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