Business Research Methods
CHAPTER 1
Practical Business Research: An Overview
Student Quiz: Test Yourself
Question 1
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you believe to be true:
a) In practical business research the sole objective is to address an issue of
importance to practising managers
b) Practical business research is about collecting and interpreting information
to inform decisions
c) If it isn’t systematic, it isn’t research
d) The only difference between academic and practical research is whether
the research is carried out in a real organisation.
Question 2
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) A research method is simply an approach for collecting data
b) To be an effective researcher all you need to learn is how to use a range of
research methods
c) Once you have mastered the appropriate skills to use these methods, you
will be equally effective as a practical or an academic researcher
d) The main point of the stories in the book is to make it more interesting to
read.
Question 3
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) A theory is any concept, construct or framework which helps you think
about a business situation
b) A simple concept may be as useful as a more complex framework
c) All theory is used to make predictions
d) A theory is no use unless it is written down
Question 4
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) Theory is useful to prove a point
b) Tacit theory helps us to be decisive
c) It is impossible to do research unless you have a theory to start with
d) The main point of theory is to suggest good practice
Question 5
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) You should always check the relevance of a theory to the context in which
you wish to apply it
b) It is important to be critical of new theories but once a theory is widely
accepted it can be applied without question
c) Any theory represents a huge amount of experience, research and learning
d) Only academics should question theory
Question 6
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) Students or consultants need to be respectful of the knowledge of their
clients
b) The purpose of evidence is to support claims; unless you are making a
claim, you do not need evidence to support decisions
c) Practical business researchers need to focus on evidence: theory is
secondary
d) It is only important decisions that need to be underpinned by evidence
Question 7
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) The purpose of research is to generate reliable evidence and draw
trustworthy conclusions
b) Credibility with clients and other stakeholders is important
c) You should use as much ‘management-speak’ in your dealings with clients
as possible, to enhance your credibility
d) A key stage in the research process is formulating research questions
e) There is a neat underlying logic to the research process
Question 8
Put a Y (for ‘Yes’) against each of the following statements that you agree with:
a) Because business research is so complex, it is important to work out a clear
plan for your investigative activities in advance, and stick to it!
b) If you want to be able to write an orderly dissertation or research paper,
you need to do your research in a similarly orderly fashion
c) A messy research process is a sign of messy thinking
d) It is OK to ‘bend’ the truth in order to write up a messy research process
into something more coherent
For the authors’ recommended responses to these questions, see the
separate website file Student Quiz Recommended Responses