CRC Research Methodology and Experimental Design 2

Question 1

A research chef uses a 9-point hedonic scale to collect consumer preference data for a new sauce. What level of measurement does this scale represent?

Accepted Answer

Interval

Answer

Nominal

Answer

Ordinal

Answer

Ratio

Question 2

What is the main advantage of using a blind experimental design in consumer taste testing?

Accepted Answer

It eliminates bias from brand expectations or prior product knowledge

Answer

It reduces the number of samples needed for statistical significance

Answer

It allows the researcher to skip randomization procedures

Answer

It guarantees a larger and more diverse consumer panel

Question 3

During iterative product development, a research chef documents every ingredient change, batch number, and observation in a bound notebook with dated entries. This practice supports which research principle?

Accepted Answer

Traceability and reproducibility

Answer

Randomization

Answer

Double-blinding

Answer

Statistical power

Question 4

A research chef wants to determine whether there is a linear relationship between the concentration of a thickener (% w/w) and the resulting viscosity (cP). Which analytical approach is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Simple linear regression

Answer

Chi-square test of independence

Answer

One-way ANOVA

Answer

Paired t-test

Question 5

In a designed experiment, which term describes the specific values or settings of the independent variable that are deliberately chosen for comparison?

Accepted Answer

Treatment levels

Answer

Replicates

Answer

Confounders

Answer

Covariates

Question 6

A research team conducts a pilot plant trial and achieves results that match bench-scale findings. Later, the same protocol run in a commercial plant fails to replicate those results. This scenario best illustrates a problem with:

Accepted Answer

External validity and transferability

Answer

Internal reliability

Answer

Construct validity

Answer

Statistical significance

Question 7

Which sampling strategy would a research chef use to ensure that consumer panel participants proportionally represent multiple demographic groups (age, gender, income) in a market study?

Accepted Answer

Stratified random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Systematic sampling