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Research Methods Question Paper

Research Methods

Course:Master Of Business Administration

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2008

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2007/2008
SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SCU 600: RESEARCH METHODS

DATE: Tuesday 17th June 2008
TIME: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.
The paper contains FIVE questions.
2.
Attempt question ONE and any other THREE questions.

1.
Read the following case and answer the questions following it:

Staff performance appraisal in the hospitality industry in Nairobi
The growth of the hospitality in Kenya has been in response to the growing demand for its service. For the Five Star Hotels in particular, as they grow in size and outreach they also grow in staff size and organizational complexity. Hospitality means kindness in welcoming strangers or guests and come from the Latin word hopes, meaning guests, and has developed into hospice, a place of shelter. One of the success or failure of these institutions is their ability to have personnel who are well trained, motivated and conversant with their products and services at all times (Otero, 1995). The effectiveness and efficiency of staff performance appraisal in five star hotels is largely determined by the human resource policies and practices in place together with leadership style adopted by the hotels. There are a number of challenges facing human resource management in the hotel industry in general. For performance appraisal in particular, challenges exist inspite of its importance in ensuring quality in the industry. According to Huffman et al (2000) formal performance appraisals are resented largely because of their tendency to decay into routine form-filling where managers sometimes copy what they wrote last year. Some of the factors that affect performance appraisal in five star hotels include appraisal tools, set performance standards, training of appraises and communication and feedback among others.

Required:
(i)
Using facts from the case define the problem facing Five Star hotels within the hospitality industry in Nairobi in preparation for a proposed study. [4 marks]
(ii)
In defining the problem what did you consider as the salient features of a good problem statement. [4 marks]
(iii)
Formulate three possible research objectives, three possible research hypotheses and three possible research questions for the proposed study. [6 marks]
(iv)
Conceptualize variables in the above situation and represent them in a clearly labeled conceptual framework. [5 marks]
(v)
Explain the importance of a testable hypothesis and its role in research studies. [4 marks]
(vi)
What ethical issues should be considered in carrying out research? [5 marks]

2.
(a)
What is a research design and why is it importance in business research? [10 marks]
(b)
You are required to carry out a study on the financial management of a Cooperative Society. You have the option of using an exploratory research design or a descriptive design. Explain how each of these researches may be appropriate or inappropriate for this study. [10 marks]
(c)
Outline the qualities of a good research design. [4 marks]

3.
Two students were requested to do a study on attitude of students on a specific B.Sc programme offered at Ruiru Campus of Kenyatta University. The number of students registered in the programme for the last three years is as indicated below:

Year of Study
Male
Female
Total
1
400
200
600
2
800
400
1200
3
1200
600
1800
4
1600
1000
2600
Total
4000
2200
6200

Required
(i)
The students were undecided on whether they should take a sample or consider a census enquiry. Advise the students on the benefits of sampling and characteristics of a good sample. [8 marks]
(ii)
Recommend to them with reason the best sampling technique for the study. [6 marks]
(iii)
Show how they would arrive at a sample size of the 20% of the total population using the sampling technique that you have recommended. [12 marks]

4.
Literature review is a process of identification, location and analysis of documents containing information related to the proposed research problem being investigated. Explain the following in relation to literature review:
(i)
The importance of literature. [8 marks]
(ii)
The link between it and theoretical framework and testable hypothesis. [4 marks]
(iii)
Sources and steps in carrying out literature review. [12 marks]

5.
(a)
You have been following the development in the financial sector in Kenya and one thing that strikes you is the growth of micro-finance institutions. You realize that some research is necessary to provide information to all those that are concerned.
(i)
Explain why you need to start with a research proposal for this study. [6 marks]
(ii)
Give an outline and brief description of the contents of a research proposal. [12 marks]
(b)
Describe the qualities of a good research report. [6 marks]

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