Exploratory research is used to help clarify concepts, frame decision problems, and increase research familiarity but does not aim to provide definitive answers. Therefore, the answer to the question is option D: 'Getting a definitive answer.'
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Exploratory research is a type of research conducted when the problem is not clearly defined. It helps researchers gain a better understanding of the issue, develop hypotheses, and identify new directions for future research. Let's go through the options to determine which one does not represent a typical use of exploratory research:
A. Better formulating the manager's decision problem.
Exploratory research is used to help clarify and define the problem that needs solving, making this a correct usage.
B. Clarifying concepts.
This is a primary purpose of exploratory research. Often, researchers use it to sort out ambiguous concepts and refine their understanding.
C. All of these represent usages of exploratory research.
This option would imply that all given usages are correct.
D. Getting a definitive answer.
Exploratory research is not used to find definitive answers; it is preliminary, aiming to gather information to point researchers in the right direction.
E. Increasing the researcher's familiarity with the problem.
Exploratory research often broadens the researcher's understanding of the issues at hand, thus this is also a correct usage.
The correct answer is D. Getting a definitive answer. Exploratory research is not designed to provide conclusive evidence or final answers; rather, it is about exploring the situation and framing subsequent research questions.