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Bmgt 320: Research Methods Question Paper
Bmgt 320: Research Methods
Course:Bachelor Of Commerce
Institution: Kabarak University question papers
Exam Year:2013
KABARAK
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
2012/2013 ACADEMIC YEAR
FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF COMMERCE, BACHELOR OF
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMICS AND MATHEMETICS
BMGT320: RESEARCH METHODS
DAY: FRIDAY
DATE: 12/04/2013
TIME: 8.00 – 11.00 A.M.
STREAM: Y3S2
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Answer question ONE and any other TWO questions
2. Apart from question ONE (1) which carries THIRTY (30) marks is COMPULSORY; all
other questions carry TWENTY (20) marks each. Marks for subdivisions are shown in
brackets.
4. Candidates are required to demonstrate clarity and accuracy of presentation.
5. Illustrations should be used where helpful
QUESTION ONE (COMPULSORY)
a) i. What is the meaning of the term „„research???
(3mks)
ii. Explain the statement „„Research is systematic and objective??.
(5mks)
b) As a partial fulfillment of the requirement of the bachelor?s degree, you are required to
conduct research and prepare a research project. Explain four ways by which you would
identify the research problem.
(8mks)
c) Why is critical review of the literature important in research studies? Explain our answer (8mks)
Page 1 of 4
d) Read the descriptions below, state and explain the type of sample selection that has taken
place.
(6mks)
i. Clients, some with credit cards and some without, are identified from Firm?s records.
Method: Clients are selected randomly within each of the two groups and the number of
clients in each group is representative of the total customer for this firm.
ii. A survey of the attitudes of employees with children under one year
Method: interviewers stop likely looking women pushing prams in the street. The number of
respondents who fall into different age bands and social classes is strictly controlled.
iii. A survey of attitudes of drug users to rehabilitation services
Method: drug users are recruited by advertising in the local newspaper for potential respondents.
v. A postal survey of the bank customer satisfaction
Method: all customers whose bank account numbers end in ''5'' are selected for a survey.
QUESTION TWO
a) One of qualities of an effective research problem is it must be researchable. Explain what this statement
means.
(2mks)
ii. „„Logic, which is basic to the scientific methods, involves deductive and inductive reasoning??.
Distinguish between deductive and inductive reasoning. Give examples
(4mks)
b) i. Distinguish between a research topic and research title
(2mrks)
ii. State and explain the qualities of an effective research title
(6mks)
c) Consider the following a sample research problem ‘‘The high fuel prices on the global markets are
causing many non-oil producing country economies to go into a recession but the causes of such oil
spikes are still largely unknown. Hence, there is a strong need for the factors, which are influencing
the upward movement in fuel prices to be determined’’.
Page 2 of 4
Required
i. Formulate a possible title to this problem
(2mks)
ii. Identify and explain two qualities of an effective research problem the above sample problem
satisfies.
(4mks)
QUESTION THREE
a) i. What are research objectives?
(2mks)
ii. Consider the following research objectives,
The objectives of this study is to,
To know the ratio of disposable incomes to household requirements in Kenya
To determine the causes of the poor purchasing power among Kenyan?s households
Explain whether each of these objectives meets the qualities of good research objectives (4mks)
b) i. Giving examples, explain the distinction between Theoretical Framework and Conceptual
Framework
(4mks)
ii. Theoretical Framework and Conceptual Framework may be represented as models. Identify and
explain the two methods of representing as models Theoretical Framework and Conceptual
Framework
(6mks)
iii. By aid of examples, explain the following terms as used in research,
i.
Dependent variables
(2mks)
ii.
Independent variables
(2mks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) Explain the following terms as applied in research design,
i. Extraneous variable
(2mks)
ii. Confounded relationship
(2mks)
b) Dr. Mwong?oli measured the variable, “feelings toward uninsured men” with the categories strongly
agree, agree, indifferent, disagree, and strongly disagree. Identify and explain the measurement scale
Dr. Mwong?oli was using
(4mks)
c) State and explain the four criteria in addition to the purpose of the study, usually need to be
specified to determine the appropriate sample size
(8mks)
Page 3 of 4
d) A bank manager wishes to know what proportion of clients is unhappy with the customer service. If
95% Confidence interval is desired to estimate the proportion within 5%, how large a sample
should be drawn?
(4mks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Questionnaires and interviews are all useful ways of gathering data. Explain any two circumstances in
which each of the method can be used
(8mks)
b) Giving examples explain the difference between a reliable and a valid measurement instrument.
(5mks)
c) i. Distinguish between a bivariate population and multivariate population.
(3mks)
ii. Distinguish between correlation and regressions techniques as measures of relationship between
variables
(4mks)
Page 4 of 4
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