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Research Methods Question Paper

Research Methods

Course:Bachelor Of Science In Entrepreneurship Studies

Institution: Chuka University question papers

Exam Year:

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2010/2011
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
EPM 391: RESEARCH METHODS

DATE: Wednesday 1st December, 2010 TIME: 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
_____________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
? Answer any THREE questions.
? Suitable diagrams should be used wherever they serve to illustrate an answer.

Q1.
a)
Distinguish between a research topic and a research title.

[4 marks]

b)
Discuss the qualities of an effective research topic and an effective title.

[8 marks]

c)
Discuss challenges usually encountered in research topic and title selection.

[8 marks]
Q2.
Briefly describe the contents of the final research project report.

[20 marks]
Q3.
a)
‘No sampling frame is perfect’. Explain why this is so, illustrating your answer with
examples.

[8 marks]
b)
A researcher who has access to a sampling frame of addresses and a sampling frame of
school children in a particular area wishes to select a sample of households that have
children of school age.
i)
Discuss how each frame might be adapted so that a suitable sample may be drawn
from it. Point out any imperfections each frame has for this purpose.

[9 marks]
ii)
Explain, with reasons, which of these two frames would be the better one for the
researcher to use.

[3 marks]

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Q4.
A research organization is planning a survey to investigate patients’ perceptions of post-
operative care in hospitals. A list of hospitals is available for each region in the country, and on
this list it is indicated whether or not the hospital is a teaching hospital. Samples of patients who
leave selected hospitals in a specified week following an operation are to be chosen. These
patients will be mailed a self-completion questionnaire two weeks after they have left hospital.
i)
Suggest a two-stage sampling design that might be used to choose a sample of hospitals.
Discuss this design in this application.

[9 marks]
ii)
Due to the confidentiality of patient records, samples of patients are to be selected from
administrative records by hospital staff. What information the research organization
might need about the format and structure of the records in order to devise a scheme for
the selection of patients?

[5 marks]
iii)
Draft six questions on post-operative care suitable for inclusion in the questionnaire to be
sent to patients. These questions should be in closed form.

[6 marks]

Q5.
Discuss the following using examples where appropriate

(i)
How to conduct a literature review.

[6 marks]

(ii)
Five mistakes researchers make while conducting literature review.
[7 marks]

(iii)
The importance of having a comprehensive and clear bibliography at the end of a
research project.

[7 marks]

………………….

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Research Methods Question Paper

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