Based on an analysis of the last six months’ sales, your boss notices that sales of beef products are declining in your chain’s restaurants.

As beef entrée sales decline, so do profits. Fearing beef sales have declined due to several newspaper stories reporting E. coli contamination discovered at area grocery stores, he suggests a survey of area restaurants to see if the situation is pervasive.

a What do you think of this research suggestion?

b How, if at all, could you improve on your boss’s formulation of the research question?