RESEARCH AND THEN TEST YOURSELF DECEMBER 2023
Question One
a) Assume you are conducting an experiment-based research,
describe with examples, five types of variables that you may
consider.
b) Archival and Documentary research is one of the strategies
you could use to collect data for your research. Describe two
advantages and three disadvantages of the strategy.
Question Two
It has been argued that literature review is a waste of time as the
researcher already knows what he wants to find out. Outline the
importance of literature review.
Question Three
Analyze four probability sampling techniques you would use in data
collection.
Question Four
Outline five characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research.
Question Five
State any ten ethical principles and the rationale for establishing
such principles.
Question Six
Research philosophy is a system of the researcher's thought,
following which new, reliable knowledge about the research
object is obtained. In other words, it is the basis of the research,
which involves the choice of research strategy, formulation of the
problem, data collection, processing, and analysis. Describe how
the following philosophy positions are used in research.
i) Positivism
ii) Critical Realism.
Question Seven
Read the story below and answer the questions that follows.
Malawi is experiencing a widespread cholera outbreak, with 36 943
cases and 1210 associated deaths reported from all 29 districts
since 3 March 2022. This is the deadliest outbreak of cholera in the
country’s history.
Cholera has been endemic in Malawi since 1998 with seasonal
outbreaks reported during the rainy season (November through
May). However, the current outbreak has extended through the dry
season, with cases being reported since March 2022.
In light of the ongoing rainy season, wide geographical spread, and
a consistently high case fatality rate (CFR) of above 3%, the
ongoing cholera outbreak was declared a public health
emergency by the Malawi government on 5 December
2022. Currently, the large geographic spread and the high number
of reported cases in the country are stretching all capacity to
respond to the outbreak, increasing the risk of serious public health
impact. The outbreak in Malawi is occurring against a backdrop of
a surge in cholera outbreaks globally, which has constrained the
availability of vaccines, tests, and treatments.
With a sharp increase of cases seen over the last month, fears are
that the outbreak will continue to worsen without strong
interventions. (source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-
outbreak-news/item/2022-DON435)
From the story formulate:
i) The Research topic.
ii) Research question
iii) Three Investigative questions
iv) Main Objective
v) Three Specific Objectives
QUESTION ONE
a) The research process is a multi stage process that is followed
to undertake and complete a research project. Describe in
detail the six stages that are involved.
b) What is business and management research?
QUESTION TWO
a) Describe in detail five research methods that can be used in
research.
b) Explain five factors that may influence the choice of the
research method to be used in a research project.
QUESTION THREE
a) Jonas visited his home village and noted that children below
the age of five are undernourished. He discovered that children
are not allowed to be given eggs and milk. How would Action
Research be used to solve this problem?
b) Coming up with a research topic may be a daunting task.
However, one can come up with a topic by using creative
thinking method. Describe how it is done.
QUESTION FOUR
a) Critical Review or Critical literature Review provides the
context and theoretical framework for your research and the
foundation on which your research is built. It assists the research
create a road map of the research project. Explain any four types
of Critical reviews.
b) Mention any four ethical principles that should be observed
in a research project.
QUESTION FIVE
a) Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work or ideas as if
they are your own, with or without their consent and failing to fully
acknowledge the original source. Explain any seven acts of
plagiarism that a student can be engaged in.
b) Give the meaning of these terms as used in research:
i) Ontology,
ii) Epistemology,
iii) Axiology.
QUESTION SIX
a) How is regulative perspective different from Radical Change
perspective?
b) Explain the following terms:
i) Inductive Approach,
ii) Deductive Approach
iii) Abductive Approach.
QUESTION SEVEN
Give characteristics of:
a) Quantitative research.
b) Qualitative Research.
QUESTION ONE
a) Research is a process that is undertaken in a systematic way
with
a clear purpose, to find things out. Briefly describe three
characteristics of a research.
b) Differentiate Pedantic Science from Pragmatic Science in
research Methods.
c) Research methodology is the specific procedures or
techniques used to identify, select, process, and analyze
information about a topic.
Describe the following methodologies:
i) Action Research.
ii) Grounded Theory.
QUESTION TWO
a) It was observed that most students when they come for
exams, they put on a jacket or a jersey even if it is very hot
day. James has been observing this trend for the past two
years. James has been told by the registrar to research on this
habit.
i) What should be the topic of his research.
ii) Formulate the research question and overall
objective.
b) Come up with two investigative questions and specific
objectives.
c) Briefly describe two characteristics of a good research topic.
QUESTION THREE
a) Theory is ‘a systematic body of knowledge grounded in empirical
evidence which can be used for explanatory or predictive
purposes.’ Explain how Inductive theory differs from Deductive
theory.
b) Describe any six items which should be included in the structure
of a research proposal.
Question one
Problem Statement
Reports on the state of freshwater reserves warn that severe water
shortages are imminent, and predict that violent conflicts will
emerge in water-scarce regions (Ohlson 2016, Elhance 2014). Water
scarcity has been shown to cause civil conflict, particularly when
accompanied by high population density, poverty, and income
inequality (Homer-Dixon 2017; Hauge and Ellingsen, 2015; Chitete
2019). Urban migrant communities, where ethnic, religious, and
class differences can exacerbate tensions, and community-wide
patterns of adaptation to environmental scarcities are not well-
formed, may be particularly vulnerable to water conflicts (Moench
2018). In Malawi, no study has been conducted to understand the
causes of conflicts in water scarce regions. To better understand
how conflicts develop in water-scarce regions, research is needed
on the social and economic factors that mediate cooperation and
conflict (Ronnfeldt 2019). I propose to do an in-depth study of
Southern region of Malawi where conflict over water is an
established part of life.
a. From the Problem Statement above, come up with
significance of the study.
b. Develop one main objective, three specific objectives of the
study, and three research questions.
c. Suggest the title of the study.
Question two
Describe any five major elements of a research methodology,
and explain the importance of each element in a study.
Question three
a) From the knowledge obtained in Research Methods 1,
discuss any three steps to formulating a good problem
statement.
b) Describe any three criteria of identifying good research
objectives.
Question four
Describe any four non probability sampling methods that are used
in research and the circumstances that preclude choice of each
sampling method.
Question five
Describe any four probability sampling methods that you know,
and explain what method(s) is/are capable of achieving high
external validity in research.
Question six
a) Describe any five primary considerations of sampling in
research.
b) Assuming you have been tasked to conduct a survey on
factors affecting sources of information among small scale
traders. Outline the methodology that would be used to
carry out such an exercise.
Question seven
Assume you have been tasked to conduct study as instructed by
your project supervisor. Choose a topic of your choice and explain
the mental abstraction of your research starting from problem
statement.
Question One
a) Describe any three benefits of pilot testing the questionnaire.
b) state the advantages and disadvantages of secondary data.
Question Two
Describe any two research strategies that can be used in carrying
out the research.
Question Three
Analyse four sampling techniques you would use in data collection.
Question Four
Outline five characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research.
Question Five
State any ten ethical principles and the rationale for establishing
such principles.
Question Six
Describe five critical review forms that you can use in reviewing
literature.
QUESTION ONE
a. Describe any three benefits of pilot testing the questionnaire.
b. State the advantages and disadvantages of secondary data.
QUESTION TWO
Describe any two research strategies that can be used in carrying
out the research.
QUESTION THREE
Analyze four sampling techniques you would use in data collection.
QUESTION FOUR
Outline five characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research.
QUESTION FIVE
State any ten ethical principles and the rationale for establishing
such principles.
QUESTION SIX
Describe five critical review forms that you can use in reviewing
literature.
QUESTION SEVEN
Study the figure below and describe the quadrants in relation to
research data collection.
