Agri 571: Research Designs And Data Analysis Question Paper
Agri 571: Research Designs And Data Analysis
Course:Master Of Science In Agricultural & Rural Development
Institution: Kenya Methodist University question papers
Exam Year:2013
KENYA METHODIST UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL & RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AUGUST, 2013
UNIT TITLE : AGRI 571
UNIT CODE : RESEARCH DESIGNS AND DATA ANALYSIS
TIME: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: ''''''Answer ALL Questions in Section A and ANY TWO in Section B
SECTION A
Question One
Distinguish between the following terms:
a) Design and experiment
b) Variable and sample
c) Randomization and Replication
d) Treatment and Experimental unit
e) Factors and blocking. (10marks)
Question Two
a) Discuss the importance of designing an experiment in Agricultural
Research. (5marks)
b) With examples explain the meaning of a factorial experiment. (5marks)
Question Three
Discuss the factors which you should consider before deciding on the shape and size of plots and blocks of an experiment. (10marks)
SECTION B
Question Four
An Agricultural engineer identifies FOUR ways that a certain job can be done. To determine how long it takes workers to do the job when each of these methods is used he asks four workers to do this job using Mehod A another four workers to do this job using method B, and so on. Each workers time(in seconds) is shown below;
Method A Method B Method C Method D
19 18 21 22
17 16 20 23
22 15 19 21
20 14 19 20
a) Which method seems fastest? Slowest? (2marks)
b) Construct the relevant analysis of variance table. (6marks)
c) Can the differences among methods in average time be attributed to chance? Let ? = 0.01 (3marks)
d) Criticize the design of this experiment. (4marks)
Question Five
An Agricultural firm examines a random sample of 10 spot welds of steel. In each case the shear strength of the weld and the diameter of the weld are determined the results being as follows:
Shear Strength Weed diameter
(Pounds) (thousands of an inch)
680 190
800 200
780 209
885 215
975 215
1,025 215
1,100 230
1,030 250
1,175 265
1,300 250
a) Construct a scatter diagram for this data. (2marks)
b) Based on the scatter diagram does this relationship between these two variables seem to be direct or inverse? Does this accord with common sense? Why or why not? Does the relationship seem to be linear?
(5marks)
c) Assume that the conditional mean value of a weild`s shear strength is a
linear function of its diameter. Calculate the least squares estimates of the parameters (A and B) of this linear function. (8marks)
Question Six
a) Discuss some of the cultural mistakes committed while conducting an
experiment in Agricultural Research. (5marks)
b) What are the effects of failing to conduct soil analysis in the plots the
experiment is to be conducted? (5marks)
c) Discuss the common mistakes in proper planning and proper layout of
an experiment. (5marks)
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