Test Bank for Business Research
Methods
Concealment: - ANSWERSa technique in an observation study in which the observer is shielded from
the participant to avoid error caused by observer's presence; this is accomplished by one-way
mirrors, hidden cameras, hidden microphones, etc.
Direct observation: - ANSWERSoccurs when the observer is physically present and personally
monitors and records the behavior of the participant.
Event sampling: - ANSWERSthe researcher records that a specific behavior or act occurs; the
duration of the observation is determined by when the act begins and ends; may record the events
antecedents and consequences.
Extralinguistic behavior: - ANSWERSthe vocal, temporal, interactive, and verbal stylistic behaviors of
human participants.
Halo effect: - ANSWERScognitive bias that influences the observer's impression of the person, object,
event or act he or she is observing.
Indirect observation: - ANSWERSoccurs when the recording of data is done by mechanical,
photographic, or electronic means.
Linguistic behaviors: - ANSWERSthe human verbal behavior during conversation, presentation, or
interaction.
Memory decay: - ANSWERSloss of detail about an event or prior behavior caused by passage of time
or interfering events, such as learning.
Nonverbal behavior: - ANSWERShuman behaviors not related to conversation (e.g., body movement,
facial expressions, exchanged glances,eyeblinks).
Observation: - ANSWERSthe full range of monitoring behavioral and nonbehavioral activities and
conditions (including record analysis, physical condition analysis, physical process analysis, nonverbal
analysis, linguistic analysis, extralinguistic analysis, and spatial analysis).
,Observation checklist: - ANSWERSa measurement instrument for recording data in an observation
study; analogous to a questionnaire in a communication study.
Observer drift: - ANSWERSgradual alterations over time in observation documentation; a source of
decay that affects reliability or validity of the observations over time.
Participant observation: - ANSWERSwhen the observer is physically involved in the research situation
and interacts with the participant to influence some observation measures
Physical condition analysis: - ANSWERSthe recording of observations of current conditions resulting
from prior decisions; includes inventory, signs, obstacles or hazards, cleanliness, etc.
Physical traces: - ANSWERSa type of observation that collects measures of wear data (erosion) and
accretion data (deposit) rather than direct observation (e.g., a study of trash).
Process (activity) analysis: - ANSWERSobservation by a time study of stages in a process, evaluated
on both effectiveness and efficiency; includes traffic flow within distribution centers and retailers,
paperwork flow, customer complaint resolution, etc.
Reactivity response: - ANSWERSthe phenomenon that occurs when participants alter their behavior
due to the presence of the observer.
Record analysis: - ANSWERSthe extraction of data from current or historical records, either private
or in the public domain; a technique of data mining.
Selective filtering: - ANSWERSdue to sheer volume of information collected through our senses, we
pay attention to only a small proportion of information we believe is critical.
Simple observation: - ANSWERSunstructured and exploratory observation of participants or objects.
Spatial relationships: - ANSWERSan observation study that records how humans physically relate to
each other (see also proxemics).
, Systematic observation: - ANSWERSdata collection through observation that employs standardized
procedures, trained observers, schedules for recording, and other devices for the observer that
mirror the scientific procedures of other primary data methods.
Time sampling: - ANSWERSthe process of selecting certain time points or time intervals to observe
and record elements, acts, or conditions from a population of observable behaviors or conditions to
represent the population as a whole; three types include time-point samples, time-interval samples,
and continuous real time samples.
Unobtrusive measures: - ANSWERSa set of observational approaches that encourage creative and
imaginative forms of indirect observation, archival searches, and variations on simple and contrived
observation, including physical traces observation (erosion and accretion).
After-only design: - ANSWERSpreexperimental design that takes one measurement of DV after
manipulation of the IV.
Asymmetrical relationship: - ANSWERSa relationship in which we postulate that change in one
variable (IV) is responsible for change in another variable (DV).
Blind: - ANSWERSwhen participants do not know if they are being exposed to the experimental
treatment.
Causal hypothesis: - ANSWERSa speculation that an IV affects a DV in a specific way.
Causation: - ANSWERSsituation where one variable leads to a specified effect on the other variable.
Control: - ANSWERSthe ability to replicate a scenario and dictate a particular outcome; the ability to
exclude, isolate, or manipulate the influence of a variable in a study; a critical factor in inference
from an experiment, implies that all factors, with the exception of the independent variable (IV),
must be held constant and not confounded with another variable that is not part of the study.
Control group: - ANSWERSa group of participants that is not exposed to the independent variable
being studied but still generates a measure for the dependent variable.
Debriefing: - ANSWERSexplanation, after the research, that the participant has been part of a
research study; done to alleviate any possible harmful effects; may reveal the purpose of the study.
Methods
Concealment: - ANSWERSa technique in an observation study in which the observer is shielded from
the participant to avoid error caused by observer's presence; this is accomplished by one-way
mirrors, hidden cameras, hidden microphones, etc.
Direct observation: - ANSWERSoccurs when the observer is physically present and personally
monitors and records the behavior of the participant.
Event sampling: - ANSWERSthe researcher records that a specific behavior or act occurs; the
duration of the observation is determined by when the act begins and ends; may record the events
antecedents and consequences.
Extralinguistic behavior: - ANSWERSthe vocal, temporal, interactive, and verbal stylistic behaviors of
human participants.
Halo effect: - ANSWERScognitive bias that influences the observer's impression of the person, object,
event or act he or she is observing.
Indirect observation: - ANSWERSoccurs when the recording of data is done by mechanical,
photographic, or electronic means.
Linguistic behaviors: - ANSWERSthe human verbal behavior during conversation, presentation, or
interaction.
Memory decay: - ANSWERSloss of detail about an event or prior behavior caused by passage of time
or interfering events, such as learning.
Nonverbal behavior: - ANSWERShuman behaviors not related to conversation (e.g., body movement,
facial expressions, exchanged glances,eyeblinks).
Observation: - ANSWERSthe full range of monitoring behavioral and nonbehavioral activities and
conditions (including record analysis, physical condition analysis, physical process analysis, nonverbal
analysis, linguistic analysis, extralinguistic analysis, and spatial analysis).
,Observation checklist: - ANSWERSa measurement instrument for recording data in an observation
study; analogous to a questionnaire in a communication study.
Observer drift: - ANSWERSgradual alterations over time in observation documentation; a source of
decay that affects reliability or validity of the observations over time.
Participant observation: - ANSWERSwhen the observer is physically involved in the research situation
and interacts with the participant to influence some observation measures
Physical condition analysis: - ANSWERSthe recording of observations of current conditions resulting
from prior decisions; includes inventory, signs, obstacles or hazards, cleanliness, etc.
Physical traces: - ANSWERSa type of observation that collects measures of wear data (erosion) and
accretion data (deposit) rather than direct observation (e.g., a study of trash).
Process (activity) analysis: - ANSWERSobservation by a time study of stages in a process, evaluated
on both effectiveness and efficiency; includes traffic flow within distribution centers and retailers,
paperwork flow, customer complaint resolution, etc.
Reactivity response: - ANSWERSthe phenomenon that occurs when participants alter their behavior
due to the presence of the observer.
Record analysis: - ANSWERSthe extraction of data from current or historical records, either private
or in the public domain; a technique of data mining.
Selective filtering: - ANSWERSdue to sheer volume of information collected through our senses, we
pay attention to only a small proportion of information we believe is critical.
Simple observation: - ANSWERSunstructured and exploratory observation of participants or objects.
Spatial relationships: - ANSWERSan observation study that records how humans physically relate to
each other (see also proxemics).
, Systematic observation: - ANSWERSdata collection through observation that employs standardized
procedures, trained observers, schedules for recording, and other devices for the observer that
mirror the scientific procedures of other primary data methods.
Time sampling: - ANSWERSthe process of selecting certain time points or time intervals to observe
and record elements, acts, or conditions from a population of observable behaviors or conditions to
represent the population as a whole; three types include time-point samples, time-interval samples,
and continuous real time samples.
Unobtrusive measures: - ANSWERSa set of observational approaches that encourage creative and
imaginative forms of indirect observation, archival searches, and variations on simple and contrived
observation, including physical traces observation (erosion and accretion).
After-only design: - ANSWERSpreexperimental design that takes one measurement of DV after
manipulation of the IV.
Asymmetrical relationship: - ANSWERSa relationship in which we postulate that change in one
variable (IV) is responsible for change in another variable (DV).
Blind: - ANSWERSwhen participants do not know if they are being exposed to the experimental
treatment.
Causal hypothesis: - ANSWERSa speculation that an IV affects a DV in a specific way.
Causation: - ANSWERSsituation where one variable leads to a specified effect on the other variable.
Control: - ANSWERSthe ability to replicate a scenario and dictate a particular outcome; the ability to
exclude, isolate, or manipulate the influence of a variable in a study; a critical factor in inference
from an experiment, implies that all factors, with the exception of the independent variable (IV),
must be held constant and not confounded with another variable that is not part of the study.
Control group: - ANSWERSa group of participants that is not exposed to the independent variable
being studied but still generates a measure for the dependent variable.
Debriefing: - ANSWERSexplanation, after the research, that the participant has been part of a
research study; done to alleviate any possible harmful effects; may reveal the purpose of the study.
