CH-9-10 Designing Databases – Modern Systems Analysis and Design : Exam Guide

This Document Contains Chapters 9 to 10 Chapter 9 Designing Databases 1) One of the purposes of database design is to choose data storage technologies that will efficiently, accurately, and securely process database activities. Answer: True 2) The selection of data storage technologies is made during the systems implementation and operation phase. Answer: False 3) The network model is the most common style for a logical database model. Answer: False 4) Conceptual modeling is performed during systems design. Answer: False 5) Generally speaking, logical and physical database design is performed in parallel with other systems design steps. Answer: True 6) Normalization helps build a data model that is simple, not redundant, and requires minimum maintenance. Answer: True 7) During logical modeling, the normalized data requirements from all user interfaces are combined into one consolidated logical database model. Answer: False 8) The selection of the appropriate storage format for each attribute from the logical database model is made during physical database design. Answer: True 9) A file organization is an arrangement of related records in secondary memory so that individual and groups of records can be stored, retrieved, and updated rapidly. Answer: True 10) When using the relational notation, the primary key attribute is indicated by a dashed underline. Answer: False 11) The primary deliverable from logical database design is a conceptual model. Answer: False 12) A relation corresponds to a computer file. Answer: False 13) File and database design occurs in two steps. Answer: True 14) The network database model is a popular database technology for new information systems. Answer: False 15) Object-oriented database models are the most frequently used database technologies for new information systems development. Answer: False 16) Each column in a relation corresponds to an entity type. Answer: False 17) Each row of a relation corresponds to a record that contains data values for an entity. Answer: True 18) One property of a relation is that entries in a given column are from the same set of values. Answer: True 19) Referencing a relation, the sequence of columns cannot be interchanged without changing the meaning or use of the relation. Answer: False 20) A well-structured relation contains data about two or more entities. Answer: False 21) A relation is said to be in second normal form when its nonprimary key attributes do not depend on each other. Answer: False 22) The result of normalization is that every nonprimary key attribute depends upon the whole primary key and nothing but the primary key. Answer: True 23) Normalization is based on an analysis of weak entities. Answer: False 24) If for every valid value of A the value of B is determined by the value of A, then B is functionally dependent on A. Answer: True 25) An attribute can be functionally dependent on more than attribute. Answer: True 26) A relation is in second normal form if every nonprimary key attribute is functionally dependent on the whole primary key. Answer: True 27) A relation is said to be in second normal form if the primary key consists of only one attribute. Answer: True 28) Transitive attributes are attributes that determine other attributes. Answer: False 29) A relation is said to be in second normal form when there are no transitive dependencies. Answer: False 30) A transitive dependency is an integrity constraint specifying that the value of an attribute in one relation depends on the value of the same attribute in another relation. Answer: False 31) A derived field is a field that can be derived from other database fields. Answer: True 32) A default value is a value a field will assume unless an explicit value is entered for that field. Answer: True 33) A null value is used to represent the zero digit in a relation. Answer: False 34) Efficient use of secondary storage and data processing speed are two goals of physical table design. Answer: True 35) Generally speaking, a physical table corresponds to a relation. Answer: False 36) Denormalization is the process of splitting or combining normalized relations into physical tables based on affinity of use of rows and fields. Answer: True 37) Denormalization reduces the chance of errors introduced by normalizing relations. Answer: False 38) A data marker is a field of data that can be used to locate a related field or row of data. Answer: False 39) A physical file is a named set of table rows stored in a contiguous section of secondary memory. Answer: True 40) Sequential files are practical for random row retrievals. Answer: False 41) When using the sequential file organization, the addition of rows requires rewriting the file. Answer: True 42) Indexes should be used generously for databases intended primarily to support data retrievals. Answer: True 43) Indexes should be used judiciously for databases that support transaction processing and other applications with heavy updating requirements. Answer: True 44) Sequential retrieval on the primary key is very fast with the hashed file organization. Answer: False 45) Random key retrieval on the primary key is comparatively slow with the hashed file organization. Answer: False 46) File restoration can be achieved through backup copies of a file, audit trails, and row image files. Answer: True 47) Multiple key retrieval is possible with the hashed file organization. Answer: False 48) Data security can be built into a file through encryption, passwords, or prohibiting users from directly manipulating a file. Answer: True 49) Designing the database for an Internet-based electronic commerce application differs significantly from the process followed when designing the database for other types of applications. Answer: False 50) Which of the following is not associated with database design? A) Structure the data in stable structures that are not likely to change over time and that have minimal redundancy. B) The preparation of a final conceptual model and the implementation of the database. C) Develop a logical database design from which we can do physical database design. D) Develop a logical database design that reflects the actual data requirements that exist in the forms and reports of an information system. Answer: B 51) The most common style for a logical database model is the: A) relational database model B) hierarchical database model C) network database model D) object-oriented database model Answer: A 52) During logical database design, the work of all systems development team members is coordinated and shared through: A) the project dictionary B) scheduled weekly meetings C) the project leader D) JAD sessions Answer: A 53) Which of the following is not a key step in logical database modeling and design? A) Combine normalized data requirements from all user interfaces into one consolidated logical database model. B) Compare the consolidated logical database design with the translated E-R model and produce, through view integration, one final logical database design for the application. C) Model how data flow through an information system, the relationships among the data flows, and how data come to be stored at specific locations. D) Translate the conceptual E-R data model for the application into normalized data requirements. Answer: C 54) Combining all normalized user views into one consolidated logical database model refers to: A) requirements structuring B) view integration C) normalization D) file integration Answer: B 55) During physical design, you consider: A) the definitions of each attribute B) the descriptions of where and when data are entered, retrieved, deleted, and updated C) the expectations for response time and data integrity D) all of the above Answer: D 56) The following are steps to transforming an E-R diagram into normalized relations and then merging all the relations into one final, consolidated set of relations except for: A) represent entities B) represent relationships C) normalize the relations D) denormalize the relations Answer: D 57) Using relational notation, an attribute of a relation that is the primary key of another relation is indicated by: A) an underline B) a circle C) a dashed underline D) italics Answer: C 58) The primary deliverable from logical database design is: A) normalized relations B) design specifications C) an updated baseline project plan D) a list of alternative design strategies Answer: A 59) A data model that represents data in the form of tables or relations is called a: A) hierarchical database model B) network database model C) relational database model D) hybrid database model Answer: C 60) A named two-dimensional table of data is a: A) network B) tree structure C) relation D) tuple Answer: C 61) Which of the following is not a true statement regarding a relation? A) Each relation consists of a set of named columns and an arbitrary number of unnamed rows. B) Each column in a relation corresponds to an attribute of that relation. C) An entry at the intersection of each row and column has a single value. D) Each row in a relation corresponds to an attribute of that relation. Answer: D 62) Assume the structure of a relation is EMPLOYEE (Emp_ID, Name, Dept, Salary). The number of attributes for this relation would be: A) three B) four C) five D) six Answer: B 63) Which of the following properties of a relation states that an entry at the intersection of each row and column is single-valued? A) Entries in cells are simple. B) Entries in columns are from the same set of values. C) Each row is unique. D) The sequence of rows is insignificant. Answer: A 64) A relation that contains a minimum amount of redundancy and allows users to insert, modify, and delete rows without errors or inconsistencies is a(n): A) independent relation B) simple relation C) unnormalized relation D) well-structured relation Answer: D 65) The process of converting complex data structures into simple, stable data structures is referred to as: A) normalization B) simplification C) structuring D) process modeling Answer: A 66) When each nonprimary key attribute is identified by the whole key, the relation is said to be in at least: A) second normal form B) third normal form C) fourth normal form D) fifth normal form Answer: A 67) A particular relationship between two attributes best defines: A) context B) functional dependency C) normal form D) structure Answer: B 68) For any relation R, if, for every valid instance of A, that value of A uniquely determines the value of B: A) then a primary dependency exists in the relation B) then A is said to be functionally dependent on B C) then B is said to be functionally dependent on A D) then A and B are candidate keys for the relation Answer: C 69) The relation state specifying that nonprimary key attributes do not depend on other nonprimary key attributes is: A) first normal form B) second normal form C) Boyce-Codd normal form D) third normal form Answer: D 70) A functional dependency between two (or more) nonprimary key attributes in a relation defines a: A) weak dependency B) partial dependency C) simple dependency D) transitive dependency Answer: D 71) To convert a relation to second normal form, you decompose the relation into new relations using the attributes, called: A) determinants B) foreign key C) pointer D) relationship key Answer: A 72) If order number serves as the primary key in the ORDER relation and also appears as a nonprimary key attribute in the INVOICE relation, then order number is said to be a: A) foreign key B) candidate key C) pointer D) relationship key Answer: A 73) Which of the following statements is true regarding normalization? A) Normalization is a top-down process. B) Normalization produces a set of well-structured relations that contain all of the data mentioned in system inputs and outputs. C) Through the use of anomalies, stable structures are produced. D) Normalization is an integrity constraint specifying that the value of an attribute in one relation depends on the value of the same attribute in another relation. Answer: B 74) Each regular entity type in an E-R diagram is transformed into a: A) row in a relation B) column in a relation C) relation D) tuple in a relation Answer: C 75) When transforming an E-R diagram into normalized relations, the identifier of the entity type becomes: A) the primary key of the corresponding relation B) the foreign key in the corresponding relation C) a nonkey attribute in the corresponding relation D) a secondary key in the corresponding relation Answer: A 76) Which of the following properties should be satisfied when the identifier of the entity type becomes the primary key of the corresponding relation? A) The value of the key must uniquely identify every row in the relation. B) The key should serve as a foreign key in at least two other relations. C) The key must be a composite of a primary key and a secondary key. D) The key should be an intelligent key. Answer: A 77) An entity whose primary key depends on the primary key of another entity is called a: A) referential entity B) candidate entity C) transitive entity D) weak entity Answer: D 78) A binary one-to-many relationship in an E-R diagram is best represented by: A) the creation of a separate relation; the primary key of this new relation is a composite key consisting of the primary key for each of the two entities in the relationship B) adding the primary key attribute (or attributes) of the entity on the one side of the relationship as a foreign key in the relation that is on the many side of the relationship C) adding the primary key attribute (or attributes) of the entity on the many side of the relationship as a foreign key in the relation that is on the one side of the relationship D) creating a relation with a composite primary key and nonkey attributes Answer: B 79) For a binary one-to-one relationship between two entities A and B, the relationship is represented by: A) adding the primary key of A as a foreign key of B B) adding the primary key of B as a foreign key of A C) combining the two entities into one relation D) either A or B Answer: D 80) For a unary one-to-one relationship between two entities A and B, the relationship is represented by: A) adding the primary key of A as a foreign key of B B) adding the primary key of B as a foreign key of A C) combining the two entities into one relation D) either A or B Answer: D 81) For a binary many-to-many relationship existing between entity types A and B: A) a separate relation C is created; the primary key of relation C is a composite key consisting of the primary key for each of the two entities in the relationship B) the primary keys of relation A and relation B are designated as functionally dependent attributes C) secondary keys are used to establish the relationship D) place the primary key of either entity in the relation for the other entity or do this for both entities Answer: A 82) If an associative entity exists, then: A) a separate relation C is created; the primary key of relation C is a composite key consisting of the primary key for each of the two entities in the relationship B) the primary keys of relation A and relation B are designated as functionally dependent attributes C) secondary keys are used to establish the relationship D) place the primary key of either entity in the relation for the other entity or do this for both entities Answer: A 83) If a relationship exists among three or more entities, then: A) recursive relationships must be established through the use of recursive foreign keys B) a separate relation with a primary key that is the composite of the primary keys of each of the participating entities is created C) separate relations are established for each class and for each of the subclasses D) use the primary key of relation A as a foreign key in relations B and C Answer: B 84) Relationships between instances of a single entity type are referred to as: A) binary relationships B) transitive relationships C) recursive relationships D) dependent relationships Answer: C 85) A many-to-many relationship that associates certain items with their component items is called a: A) binary structure B) bill-of-materials structure C) binary relationship D) ternary relationship Answer: B 86) A foreign key in a relation that references the primary key values of that same relation is referred to as a: A) secondary key B) recursive foreign key C) composite key D) complex key Answer: B 87) For a unary M:N relationship: A) the entity type is modeled as one relation; using as its primary key a composite key, a separate relation is created to represent the M:N relationship B) the entity type and the M:N relationship are modeled as one relation; a composite key is used C) separate relations for the class and for each subclass are created; primary and foreign keys are established for each class D) the primary key of the entity on the one side of the relationship serves as a foreign key in the relation on the many side of the relationship Answer: A 88) "Create a relation with primary key and nonkey attributes" is the relational representation for which E-R structure? A) weak entity B) regular entity C) gerund D) IS-A relationship Answer: B 89) Merging relations is also referred to as: A) view integration B) view consolidation C) encompassing D) normalizing Answer: A 90) Two different names that refer to the same data item best defines: A) homonym B) synonym C) transitive dependency D) alias Answer: B 91) A single name that is used for two or more different attributes best defines: A) homonym B) synonym C) transitive dependency D) alias Answer: A 92) When two 3NF relations are merged to form a single relation: A) weak entities are created B) recursive relationships may result C) transitive dependencies may result D) IS-A relationships are formed Answer: C 93) A named set of rows and columns that specifies the fields in each row of the table best describes: A) relation B) data structure C) entity type D) physical table Answer: D 94) A special field value, distinct from 0, blank, or any other value, that indicates that the value for the field is missing or otherwise unknown best defines: A) transitive value B) primary key C) null value D) pointer Answer: C 95) The process of splitting or combining normalized relations into physical tables based on affinity of use of rows and fields best describes: A) normalization B) simplification C) denormalization D) data structure Answer: C 96) Which of the following combines range and hash partitioning by first segregating data by ranges on the designated attribute and then within each of these partitions it further partitions by hashing on the designated attribute? A) composite partitioning B) combined partitioning C) transitive partitioning D) functional partitioning Answer: A 97) A field of data that can be used to locate a related field or row of data best describes: A) pointer B) marker C) field locator D) reference locator Answer: A 98) A table used to determine the location of rows in a file that satisfy some condition best describes: A) relation B) structure chart C) index D) domain table Answer: C 99) The index file organization: A) provides very fast random retrieval on the primary key B) provides slow random retrieval on the primary key C) provides moderately fast random retrieval on the primary key D) does not provide random retrieval on the primary key Answer: C 100) A ________ is an attribute whose value is unique across all occurrences of a relation. Answer: primary key 101) A ________ represents data as a set of related tables or relations. Answer: relational database model 102) A ________ is a named, two-dimensional table of data. Answer: relation 103) A ________ is a relation that contains a minimum amount of redundancy and allows users to insert, modify, and delete the rows without errors or inconsistencies. Answer: well-structured relation 104) ________ is the process of converting complex data structures into simple, stable data structures. Answer: Normalization 105) ________ refers to a particular relationship between two attributes. Answer: Functional dependency 106) A relation is in ________ if every nonprimary key attribute is functionally dependent on the whole primary key. Answer: second normal form 107) A relation is in ________ if it is in second normal form and there are no functional dependencies between two (or more) nonprimary key attributes. Answer: third normal form 108) A ________ is an attribute that appears as a nonprimary key attribute in one relation and as a primary key attribute (or part of a primary key) in another relation. Answer: foreign key 109) ________ is an integrity constraint specifying that the value (or existence) of an attribute in one relation depends on the value (or existence) of the same attribute in another relation. Answer: Referential integrity 110) A ________ is a foreign key in a relation that references the primary key values of that same relation. Answer: recursive foreign key 111) ________ refers to two different names that are used for the same attribute. Answer: Synonym 112) ________ is a single attribute name that is used for two or more different attributes. Answer: Homonym 113) A ________ is the smallest unit of named application data recognized by system software. Answer: field 114) A ________ is a coding scheme recognized by system software for representing organizational data. Answer: data type 115) A ________ is a field that can be derived from other database fields. Answer: calculated field 116) A ________ is a value a field will assume unless an explicit value is entered for that field. Answer: default value 117) ________ is a special field value, distinct from 0, blank, or any other value, that indicates that the value for the field is missing or otherwise unknown. Answer: Null value 118) A ________ is a named set of rows and columns that specifies the fields in each row of the table. Answer: physical table 119) ________ is the process of splitting or combining normalized relations into physical tables based on affinity of use of rows and fields. Answer: Denormalization 120) ________ is a technique for physically arranging the records of a file. Answer: File organization 121) A ________ is a field of data that can be used to locate a related field or row of data. Answer: pointer 122) An ________ is a table used to determine the location of rows in a file that satisfy some condition. Answer: index 123) A ________ is one or a combination of fields for which more than one row may have the same combination of values. Answer: secondary key 124) The ________ uses an algorithm to determine the address for each row. Answer: hashed file organization 125) Define each of the following terms: relation, functional dependency, foreign key, and normalization. Answer: A relation is a named two-dimensional table of data. A particular relationship between two attributes is called a functional dependency. A foreign key is an attribute that appears as a nonkey attribute in one relation and as a primary key attribute (or part of a primary key) in another relation. Normalization is the process of converting complex data structures into simple, stable data structures. 126) Outline the four key steps in logical database modeling and design. Answer: The four key steps in logical database modeling and design are: (1) using normalization principles, develop a logical data model for each known user interface for the application; (2) combine all normalized user views into one consolidated logical database model; (3) translate the conceptual E-R data model for the application into normalized relations; and (4) compare the consolidated logical database design with the translated E-R model, and produce, through view integration, one final logical database model for the application. 127) Identify the five properties of a relation. Answer: The five properties that distinguish a relation from a nonrelational table are: (1) entries in columns are simple; (2) entries in columns are from the same set of values; (3) each row is unique; (4) the sequence of columns is insignificant; and (5) the sequence of rows is insignificant. 128) Discuss the rules for normalization. Answer: Although first normal form is not directly mentioned in the textbook, it requires the removal of repeating data, so there is a single value at the intersection of each row and column of the relation. Relations are in second normal form if nonkey attributes require the whole key for identification. Relations are in third normal form if no transitive dependencies exist in the relation. 129) Briefly identify the three file organizations. Answer: Sequential, indexed, and hashed are the three file organizations presented in the textbook. When using the sequential file organization, the rows in the file are stored in sequence according to a primary key value. When using the indexed file organization, the rows are stored either sequentially or nonsequentially, and an index is created that allows software to locate individual rows. The hashed file organization method uses an algorithm to determine the address for each row. 130) Identify several advantages and disadvantages of using an index. Answer: By using an index, both random and sequential processing are possible. As the index is separate from the data, multiple index structures can be built on the same data file. The disadvantages include the extra space needed to store the indexes and the extra time required to access and maintain the indexes. 131) What are the four key physical database design decisions you will make? Answer: The four key physical database design decisions are selecting data types, data structures, file organizations, and media and structures for storing data. 132) What is second normal form? What conditions determine if a relation is in second normal form? Answer: A relation is in second normal form if each nonkey attribute is functionally dependent on the whole primary key. Three conditions were mentioned in the textbook. These conditions are: (1) the primary key consists of only one attribute; (2) no nonprimary key attributes exist in the relation; and (3) every nonprimary key attribute is functionally dependent on the full set of primary key attributes. 133) How is a binary one-to-one relationship represented? Answer: A binary one-to-one relationship can be represented in three ways: (1) the primary key of the first entity can serve as a foreign key of the second entity; (2) the primary key of the second entity can serve as a foreign key of the first entity; or (3) each entity's primary key can serve as a foreign key of the other entity. 134) You have recently been hired by an appliance repair company. Your first task is to normalize the following relation. Answer: After normalization, students should identify at least four relations. Students may include additional fields. CLIENT (Client_No, Last_Name, Street_Address, City, State) TECHNICIAN (Technician_No, Tech_Last_Name) PROVIDED SERVICE (Service_Date, Client_No, Service_No) SERVICE (Service_No, Service_Description) Chapter 10 Designing Forms and Reports 1) In general, forms are used to present or collect information on a single item. Answer: True 2) The contents of a form or report correspond to the data elements contained in an associated data flow located on a data flow diagram. Answer: True 3) The data on all forms and reports must consist of data elements in data stores and on the E-R data model for the application or must be computed from these data elements. Answer: True 4) Invoices and mailing labels are examples of forms. Answer: False 5) On the Internet, form interaction is the standard method of gathering and displaying information when consumers order products, request product information, or query account status. Answer: True 6) When preparing an initial prototype of a form or report, the structuring and refinement of the requirements requires much input from the end users. Answer: False 7) Often, the initial prototypes of forms and reports are mock screens that are not working modules or systems. Answer: True 8) The major deliverables from the designing forms and reports stage are logic models. Answer: False 9) Structure charts, flowcharts, and dialogue diagrams are the major deliverables for the designing forms and reports stage. Answer: False 10) Designing usable forms and reports requires your active interaction with users. Answer: True 11) The purpose of the testing and usability assessment section of a form design specification is to explain to those who will actually develop the final form why this form exists and how it will be used. Answer: False 12) Notifying the user on the last page of a multipaged sequence is a guideline for designing forms and reports. Answer: True 13) Gaining an understanding of the skills of the intended system users and the tasks they will be performing is invaluable when constructing a form or report. Answer: True 14) Highlighting techniques can be used singularly or in tandem, depending upon the level of emphasis desired by the designer. Answer: True 15) Highlighting should be used as often as possible to draw the user away from or to certain information. Answer: False 16) Form designers should use highlighting as often as possible to distinguish the different categories of data. Answer: False 17) Color, intensity, and size differences are methods of highlighting. Answer: True 18) Highlighting methods should be consistently selected and used based upon the level of importance of the emphasized information. Answer: True 19) Generally speaking, highlighting methods appear the same on all output devices. Answer: False 20) In business-related systems, textual output is becoming less important as the text-based applications that use these systems are slowly disappearing. Answer: False 21) Where possible, text should appear in all upper case on forms. Answer: False 22) The guidelines for displaying text include case, spacing, and justification guidelines. Answer: True 23) When designing textual output, the text's case should be displayed in mixed upper and lower case. Answer: True 24) When designing textual output, you should use single spacing wherever possible. Answer: False 25) When designing textual output, you should hyphenate words between lines. Answer: False 26) When designing textual output, both the left and right margins should appear justified. Answer: False 27) When displaying textual information, use abbreviations and acronyms as often as possible. Answer: False 28) When using color, printing or conversion to other media, may not easily translate. Answer: True 29) The context and meaning of tables and lists are derived from the format of the information. Answer: True 30) When displaying tables and lists, you should right-justify numeric data and align columns by decimal points or other delimiters. Answer: True 31) When displaying tables and lists, you should break long sequences of alphanumeric data into small groups of three to four characters each. Answer: True 32) Tables are very beneficial for analyzing data changes over time. Answer: False 33) When selecting tables versus graphs, you should use graphs for reading individual values. Answer: False 34) When selecting tables versus graphs, you should use graphs for detecting trends over time. Answer: True 35) When selecting tables versus graphs, you should use tables to forecast activities. Answer: False 36) When selecting tables versus graphs, you should use tables to provide a quick summary of data. Answer: False 37) One of the primary advantages of impact printers is their ability to exactly replicate a screen report on paper. Answer: False 38) Reliability is an overall evaluation of how a system performs in supporting a particular user for a particular task. Answer: False 39) Referencing form and report usability, the consistency guideline means that formatting should be designed with an understanding of the task being performed and the intended user. Answer: False 40) Referencing form and report usability, special symbols, such as decimal places, dollar signs and +/- signs should be used as appropriate. Answer: True 41) Referencing the general design guidelines for form and report usability, the ease usability factor means that information should be viewed and retrieved in a manner most convenient to the user. Answer: False 42) When designing forms and reports, issues related to a user's experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality should not be considered. Answer: False 43) When designing the forms and reports for an Internet-based electronic commerce application, a prototyping design process is most appropriate. Answer: True 44) When designing the layout of Web pages, you should avoid using bleeding-edge technology. Answer: True 45) To avoid the nonstandard use of GUI widgets, make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your Web site. Answer: False 46) Nonstandard colors confuse the user and reduce ease of use. Answer: True 47) To avoid outdated information on your Web site, you should make sure your site is continuously updated so that users feel that the site is regularly maintained and updated. Answer: True 48) Fixed-formatted text processing refers to the use of small simple images to allow a Web page to more quickly be displayed. Answer: False 49) XML icons are templates that display and process common attributes of higher-level, more abstract items. Answer: False 50) One key to designing quality business processes is the delivery of the right information to the right people, in the right format, at the right time. Answer: True 51) Presenting or collecting information on a single item is the purpose of a: A) diagram B) form C) report D) none of the above Answer: B 52) The type of document that is used to convey information on a collection of items is a: A) report B) diagram C) letter D) form Answer: A 53) Which of the following is not a true statement? A) Forms and reports are integrally related to various diagrams developed during requirements structuring. B) Every input form will be associated with a data flow leaving a process on a DFD. C) The contents of a form or report correspond to the data elements contained in an associated data flow. D) The data on all forms and reports must be data elements in data stores and on the E-R data model for the application, or must be computed from these data elements. Answer: B 54) A class registration sheet is an example of a: A) report B) diagram C) memo D) form Answer: D 55) Which of the following is not a true statement concerning forms? A) Most forms have a stylized format and are usually not in a simple row and column format. B) Forms may be displayed on a video display and may be used for data display or data entry. C) Forms are used to convey information on a collection of items. D) Every output form will be a data flow produced by a process on a DFD. Answer: C 56) A business document that contains some predefined data and may include some areas where additional data are to be filled in best describes a: A) report B) diagram C) memo D) form Answer: D 57) A passive document that contains only predefined data best describes a: A) report B) diagram C) form D) none of the above Answer: A 58) Which of the following is a true statement? A) An employee application is an example of a report. B) Reports are only for reading and often contain data about multiple unrelated records in a computer file. C) Reports are used to convey information on a single item. D) Generally, reports are only printed on paper. Answer: B 59) A pie chart of population by age categories is an example of: A) a statistical chart B) a report C) a form D) regression analysis Answer: B 60) Which of the following is a report? A) employment application B) class registration sheet C) product order form D) invoice Answer: D 61) When designing forms and reports, the first activity is to: A) gain an understanding of the intended user and task objectives by collecting initial requirements during requirements determination B) structure and refine the requirements independent from the users C) ask users to review and refine prototypes of the form or report D) structure and refine the requirements with the users Answer: A 62) Which of the following is a fundamental question to ask when designing forms and reports? A) Who will use the form or report? B) What is the purpose of the form or report? C) Where does the form or report need to be delivered and used? D) all of the above Answer: D 63) The focus placed on forms and reports during logical design is on: A) the content and layout design of the forms and reports B) identifying how specific forms or reports should be implemented C) identifying the content, layout design, and implementation method D) none of the above Answer: A 64) In the case of designing forms and reports, the major deliverables are: A) the design specifications B) an updated baseline project plan and updated statement of work C) entity-relationship diagrams D) the implemented forms and reports Answer: A 65) Which of the following is a design specification section? A) management issues B) system description C) testing and usability assessment D) feasibility assessment Answer: C 66) The section of a design specification that explains to those who will actually develop the final form why this form exists and how it will be used is called: A) testing and usability assessment B) rationale and benefit C) narrative overview D) usage and application Answer: C 67) If a form is delivered on a visual display terminal, which design specification section would describe the capabilities of this device? A) sample design B) narrative overview C) testing and usability D) management issues Answer: B 68) Clearly labeling all data and entry fields refers to the general guideline of: A) meaningful titles B) meaningful information C) balanced layout D) easy navigation Answer: C 69) Providing a valid date (or time) that identifies when the data in the form or report were accurate refers to the general guideline of: A) meaningful titles B) meaningful information C) balanced layout D) easy navigation Answer: A 70) All of the following are general guidelines for the design of forms and reports except: A) meaningful titles should be used B) extraneous information should be used to provide additional information as needed C) the user should be able to navigate easily through the document D) the layout should be balanced Answer: B 71) In general, highlighting: A) should not be used to warn users of errors in data entry or processing B) should not be used to provide warnings to users regarding possible problems such as unusual data values C) should not be used in tandem D) should be used sparingly to draw the user to or away from certain information and to group together related information Answer: D 72) Which of the following is a highlighting method? A) using all capital letters B) using different fonts C) underlining D) all of the above Answer: D 73) Research conducted on highlighting suggests: A) highlighting should be used conservatively B) highlighting methods should be consistently used and selected based on the level of importance of the emphasized information C) blinking and audible tones should only be used to highlight critical information that requires an immediate response from the user D) all of the above Answer: D 74) All of the following are problems with using color except: A) printing or conversion to other media may not easily translate B) evokes more emotional reactions C) resolution may degrade with different displays D) color pairings may washout or cause problems for some users Answer: B 75) Which of the following is not a benefit of using color? A) soothes or strikes the eye B) facilitates subtle discriminations in complex displays C) evokes more emotional reactions D) printing or conversion to other media may not easily translate Answer: D 76) Research conducted on the usage of color found that: A) color had positive effects on user task performance and perceptions when the user was under time constraints for the completion of a task B) color is universally better than no color C) the benefits of color are apparent regardless of the presentation format of the information D) limiting the number and amount of color is not a good idea Answer: A 77) When displaying text, a person should: A) right justify text B) hyphenate words between lines C) use double spacing if space permits D) use obscure abbreviations and acronyms Answer: C 78) In reference to the general guidelines for displaying tables and lists, which of the following statements is not true? A) The context and meaning of tables and lists are significantly derived from the format of the information. B) The usability of information displayed in tables and alphanumeric lists is likely to be much more influenced by effective layout than most other types of information. C) A blank line should be placed between every ten rows in long columns. D) A single type face should be used, except for emphasis. Answer: C 79) The general guidelines for displaying tables and lists include: A) providing meaningful labels for all columns and rows B) allowing white space on printed reports for users to write notes C) breaking long sequences of alphanumeric data into small groups of three to four characters each D) all of the above Answer: D 80) Tables should be used instead of graphs when the user will be: A) comparing points and patterns of different variables B) forecasting activities C) reading individual data values D) detecting trends over time Answer: C 81) Graphs should be used instead of tables for all of the following except: A) comparing points and patterns of different variables B) forecasting activities C) reading individual data values D) detecting trends over time Answer: C 82) Which of the following is not a true statement? A) Tables are best when the users' task is related to finding an individual data value from a larger data set. B) Line and bar graphs are more appropriate for gaining an understanding of data changes over time. C) Providing sufficient white space often entails printing a report in portrait rather than in landscape orientation. D) The key determination as to when you should select a table or a graph is the task being performed by the user. Answer: C 83) All of the following are usability characteristics except: A) satisfaction B) completeness C) speed D) accuracy Answer: B 84) An overall evaluation of how a system performs for supporting a particular user for a particular task refers to: A) usability B) testing C) quality check D) feasibility assessment Answer: A 85) The general design guideline stating that information should be viewed and retrieved in a manner most convenient to the user is: A) efficiency B) ease C) flexibility D) format Answer: C 86) The general design guideline stating that outputs should be self-explanatory and not require users to remember information from prior outputs in order to complete tasks is: A) efficiency B) ease C) flexibility D) format Answer: B 87) The general design guideline stating that formatting should be designed with an understanding of the task being performed and the intended user refers to: A) efficiency B) ease C) flexibility D) format Answer: A 88) When designing forms and reports, the user characteristic addresses: A) issues related to experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality B) social issues such as the user's status and role, lighting, sound, task interruptions, temperature, and humidity C) job activities that differ in the amount of information that must be obtained from or provided to the user D) the platform in which the system is constructed, influencing interaction styles and devices Answer: A 89) When designing forms and reports, the task characteristic addresses: A) issues related to experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality B) social issues such as the user's status and role, lighting, sound, task interruptions, temperature, and humidity C) activities that differ in the amount of information that must be obtained from or provided to the user D) the platform in which the system is constructed influencing interaction styles and devices Answer: C 90) When designing forms and reports, the environment characteristic addresses: A) issues related to experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality B) social issues such as the user's status and role, lighting, sound, task interruptions, temperature, and humidity C) job activities that differ in the amount of information that must be obtained from or provided to the user D) the platform in which the system is constructed influencing interaction styles and devices Answer: B 91) When designing forms and reports, the system characteristic addresses: A) issues related to experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality B) social issues such as the user's status and role, lighting, sound, task interruptions, temperature, and humidity C) job activities that differ in the amount of information that must be obtained from or provided to the user D) the platform in which the system is constructed influencing interaction styles and devices Answer: D 92) Which of the following are methods used for assessing usability? A) subjective satisfaction B) speed of performance C) rate of errors D) all of the above Answer: D 93) To assess usability, information can be collected by: A) observation B) interviews C) keystroke capturing D) all of the above Answer: D 94) When designing Web pages, which of the following is the recommendation for avoiding nonstandard use of GUI Widgets? A) avoid using large images, lots of images, unnecessary animations, or other time-consuming content B) avoid scrolling text and animations since they are both hard to read and users often equate such content as advertising C) make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site D) make sure that when using standard design items, that they behave in accordance to major interface design standards Answer: D 95) When designing Web pages, which of the following is the recommendation for avoiding bleeding-edge technology? A) avoid using large images, lots of images, unnecessary animations, or other time-consuming content B) avoid scrolling text and animations since they are both hard to read and users often equate such content as advertising C) make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site D) make sure you avoid designing any legitimate information in a manner that resembles advertising Answer: C 96) When designing Web pages, which of the following is the recommendation for the displaying long lists as long pages error? A) avoid using large images, lots of images, unnecessary animations, or other time-consuming content B) show only N items at a time, use multiple pages, or use a scrolling container within the window C) make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site D) make sure you avoid designing any legitimate information in a manner that resembles advertising Answer: B 97) When designing Web pages, which of the following is the recommendation for avoiding anything that looks like advertising? A) avoid using large images, lots of images, unnecessary animations, or other time-consuming content B) avoid scrolling text and animations since they are both hard to read and users often equate such content as advertising C) make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site D) make sure you avoid designing any legitimate information in a manner that resembles advertising Answer: D 98) When designing Web pages, which of the following is the recommendation for avoiding slow download times? A) avoid using large images, lots of images, unnecessary animations, or other time-consuming content B) avoid scrolling text and animations since they are both hard to read and users often equate such content as advertising C) make sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site D) make sure you avoid designing any legitimate information in a manner that resembles advertising Answer: A 99) The use of small simple images to allow a Web page to be displayed more quickly best describes: A) icons B) lightweight graphics C) cookie crumbs D) MPEG files Answer: B 100) Templates used to display and process common attributes of a higher-level and more abstract items best describes: A) object-oriented templates B) CGI scripts C) Java D) template-based HTML Answer: D 101) A ________ is a business document that contains some predefined data and may include some areas where additional data are to be filled in. Answer: form 102) A ________ is a business document that contains only predefined data; it is a passive document used only for reading or viewing. Answer: report 103) Designing forms and reports is a user-focused activity that typically follows a ________ approach. Answer: prototyping 104) The three design specification sections are ________, ________, and ________. Answer: narrative overview, sample design, testing and usability assessment 105) The ________ section of a design specification provides a general overview of the characteristics of the target users, tasks, system, and environmental factors in which the form or report will be used. Answer: narrative overview 106) Guidelines for designing forms and reports address ________, ________, ________, and ________. Answer: using meaningful titles, including meaningful information, balancing the layout, designing an easy navigation system 107) Guidelines for displaying text include ________, ________, ________, ________, and ________. Answer: case, spacing, justification, hyphenation, abbreviations 108) ________ is an overall evaluation of how a system performs in supporting a particular user for a particular task. Answer: Usability 109) The three usability characteristics are ________, ________, and ________. Answer: speed, accuracy, satisfaction 110) The ________ general design guideline for usability of forms and reports specifies that information should be viewed and retrieved in a manner most convenient to the user. Answer: flexibility 111) The ________ general design guideline for usability of forms and reports specifies that formatting should be designed with an understanding of the task being performed and the intended user. Answer: efficiency 112) The ________ general design guideline for usability of forms and reports specifies that outputs should be self-explanatory and not require users to remember information from prior outputs in order to complete tasks. Answer: ease 113) When designing forms and reports, the ________ characteristic suggests that issues related to experience, skills, motivation, education, and personality be considered. Answer: user 114) When designing forms and reports, the ________ characteristic suggests that social issues be considered. Answer: environment 115) ________, ________, ________, ________, and ________ are methods for assessing usability. Answer: Time to learn, speed of performance, rate of errors, retention over time, subjective satisfaction 116) When assessing usability, you can collect information by ________, ________, ________, and ________. Answer: observation, interviews, keystroke capture, questionnaires 117) ________ reflects how long it takes the average system user to become proficient using the system. Answer: Time to learn 118) When designing the layout of Web pages, making sure that standard design items behave in accordance to major interface design standards is the recommendation for the ________ error. Answer: nonstandard use of GUI Widgets 119) When designing the layout of Web pages, making sure that you avoid designing any legitimate information in a manner that resembles advertising is the recommendation for the ________ error. Answer: anything that looks like advertising 120) When designing the layout of Web pages, making sure that users do not need the latest browsers or plug-ins to view your site is the recommendation for the ________ error. Answer: bleeding-edge technology 121) When designing the layout of Web pages, avoid scrolling text and animations since they are both hard to read and users often equate such content as advertising is the recommendation for the ________ error. Answer: scrolling test and looping animations 122) When designing the layout of Web pages, making sure your site is continuously updated so that users feel that the site is regularly maintained and updated is the recommendation for the ________ error. Answer: outdated information 123) ________ is the use of small, simple images to allow a Web page to be displayed more quickly. Answer: Lightweight graphics 124) Templates to display and process common attributes of higher-level, more abstract items are called ________. Answer: template-based HTML 125) Pine Valley Furniture's design guidelines for its WebStore included ________, ________, and ________. Answer: lightweight graphics, forms and data integrity rules, template-based HTML 126) Differentiate between a form and a report. Answer: Forms are defined as business documents that contain some predefined data and may include some areas where additional data are to be filled in. Examples of forms are: order forms, employment applications, and class registration sheets. Reports are business documents that contain only predefined data. Reports are considered to be passive documents used only for reading or viewing. Examples of reports include invoices, a pie chart of population by age categories, and a weekly sales summary by region report. 127) Identify several general guidelines for the design of forms and reports. Answer: The guidelines can be grouped into four categories: meaningful titles, meaningful information, balanced layout, and easy navigation. Clear and specific titles describe the content and use of the document. By providing a revision date or code, the document is distinguished from earlier versions. A valid date identifies on what date (or time) the data in the form or report was accurate. Only needed information should be displayed; information should be provided in a usable manner without requiring modification. Information should be balanced on the screen or page. Adequate spacing and margins should be used. Data and entry fields should be clearly labeled. Easy navigation is provided by clearly showing how to move forward and backward, clearly showing the user where he or she is, and by notifying the user when he or she is on the last page of a multipaged sequence. 128) What are the general guidelines for displaying tables and lists? Answer: Three categories of guidelines were provided in the textbook, including using meaningful labels, formatting columns, rows, and text, and formatting numeric, textual, and alphanumeric data. Table 10-7 provides specific guidelines for each category. 129) When should you use tables? When should you use graphs? Answer: Tables are recommended for reading individual data values. Graphs are recommended for providing a quick summary of data, detecting trends over time, comparing points and patterns of different variables, forecasting activities, and reporting vast amounts of information when relatively simple impressions are to be drawn. 130) What is usability? Identify three characteristics for assessing usability. Answer: Usability is an overall evaluation of how a system performs in supporting a particular user for a particular task. Speed, accuracy, and satisfaction are the three characteristics. 131) Identify nine common errors that occur when designing the layout of Web pages. Answer: The nine common errors are nonstandard use of GUI widgets, anything that looks like advertising, bleeding-edge technology, scrolling test and looping animations, nonstandard link colors, outdated information, slow download times, fixed-formatted text, and displaying long lists as long pages. 132) Define template-based HTML. What is its advantage? Answer: Template-based HTML refers to templates that display and process common attributes of higher-level, more abstract items. HTML templates enable the easy maintenance of interfaces, allowing a module to be reused. 133) Identify four problems from using color. Answer: Four problems were identified in the textbook, including color pairings may wash out or cause problems for some users, resolution may degrade with different displays, color fidelity may degrade on different displays, and printing or conversion to other media may not easily translate. 134) Identify five guidelines for displaying text. Answer: The guidelines presented in the textbook include: (1) text should be displayed in mixed upper and lower case and use conventional punctuation; (2) when possible, double spacing should be used; (3) text should be left-justified; (4) words should not be hyphenated between lines; and (5) abbreviations and acronyms should be used only when they are widely understood by users and are significantly shorter than the full text. 135) Identify five methods of highlighting. Answer: Ten methods were presented in the textbook; these include: blinking and audible tones, color differences, intensity differences, size differences, font differences, reverse video, boxing, underlining, all capital letters, and offsetting the position of nonstandard information. Test Bank for Modern Systems Analysis and Design Jeffrey A. Hoffer, Joey George, Joseph S. Valacich, Joe Valacich, Jeffrey Slater 9780132991308, 9780134204925, 9780135172759, 9780136088219