BCI Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'control group' and why is it important in BC research experiments?
- A group that manages the experiment logistics
- A comparison group that does not receive the intervention, enabling isolation of its effect (Correct answer)
- A group of senior managers who approve the research
- A dataset used exclusively for statistical calculations
Correct answer: A comparison group that does not receive the intervention, enabling isolation of its effect
A control group provides a baseline comparison, allowing researchers to attribute observed changes specifically to the intervention rather than other factors.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'grey literature' in the context of BC research?
- Classified government documents
- Reports, white papers, and technical documents not published in peer-reviewed journals (Correct answer)
- Outdated research published before 2000
- Research conducted by competitors
Correct answer: Reports, white papers, and technical documents not published in peer-reviewed journals
Grey literature includes practitioner reports, government publications, and conference proceedings that have not undergone formal peer review.
Question 3: A BC analyst uses historical hurricane frequency data from NOAA to project future disruption likelihood. This is an example of:
- Anecdotal evidence
- Quantitative secondary data analysis (Correct answer)
- Ethnographic research
- Delphi method
Correct answer: Quantitative secondary data analysis
Using existing datasets collected by another organization (NOAA) for new analysis constitutes quantitative secondary data analysis.
Question 4: In the Delphi method used in BC research, what is the purpose of iterative feedback rounds?
- To reduce the number of participants over time
- To move expert opinions toward consensus through structured, anonymous feedback (Correct answer)
- To increase the speed of data collection
- To eliminate minority viewpoints from the final report
Correct answer: To move expert opinions toward consensus through structured, anonymous feedback
Iterative feedback rounds in the Delphi method allow experts to revise their opinions after seeing aggregated group responses, facilitating convergence toward consensus.
Question 5: What does 'construct validity' mean when applied to a BC maturity assessment tool?
- The tool is built using durable materials
- The tool accurately measures the theoretical concept (maturity) it claims to measure (Correct answer)
- The tool produces the same results each time it is applied
- The tool has been reviewed by a legal team
Correct answer: The tool accurately measures the theoretical concept (maturity) it claims to measure
Construct validity refers to whether an instrument genuinely measures the theoretical construct it is designed to assess, not just surface behaviors.
Question 6: Which research bias occurs when BC researchers unconsciously favor information that confirms their existing assumptions about risk?
- Sampling bias
- Confirmation bias (Correct answer)
- Recall bias
- Social desirability bias
Correct answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias leads researchers to selectively gather or interpret evidence in ways that support pre-existing beliefs, threatening objectivity.
Question 7: A BC team compares its RTO achievement rates against industry benchmarks from a published survey. This practice is known as:
- Gap analysis
- Benchmarking (Correct answer)
- Root cause analysis
- Sensitivity analysis
Correct answer: Benchmarking
Benchmarking involves comparing organizational performance metrics against industry standards or peer organizations to identify relative performance.
BCI Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice 3
What is a 'control group' and why is it important in BC research experiments?