REVIEW QUESTIONS

MSU 074041 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

QUESTION ONE:

CASE ONE:

Read the following case study and then use the answer sheet provided to answer the
questions that follow. (30 Marks)

Sandra Kegomdicwe Qolesa was studying a Master in Public Health at the School of Public
Health, University of Western Cape. As one of the requirements for completion of her Master in
Public Health in 2017, she conducted a study entitled “Factors Influencing Teenage Pregnancy in
Heidedal Location, Mangaung District.” Approximately 30% of teenagers in South Africa report
‘ever having been pregnant’ with the majority of these pregnancies being unplanned (Willan,
2013). Whilst there has been a decrease in the number of teenage pregnancies reported over the
past few decades, the rate is still inadmissibly high (Willan, 2013). This is despite a number of
prevention interventions that have been instituted in South Africa which include school-based
sexuality education, peer education programmes, adolescent friendly clinic initiatives, mass
media interventions as well as community level programmes (Panday, Makiwane, Ranchod, &
Letsoalo, 2009).

In the Free State Province, data of under 18 teenage deliveries reported for the 2013/14 period
was 7.1% (District Health Barometer, 2015). This reported figure is slightly below the 7.8 %
national teenage pregnancy target (Mangaung District Health Plan, 2015). Although the rate of
under 18 deliveries in Mangaung is within the national target, it is however three times more
than the provincial target of 2%. . Due to the rates being higher than the policy goals of the
province, it is worth conducting a study in order to gain deeper understanding of factors that are
influencing teenage pregnancy in this district.

In order to address the problem of teenage pregnancies in Mangaung district, the aim of this
research was to contribute towards an understanding of the factors that influence teenage
pregnancy by exploring the individual, social and structural factors influencing teenage
pregnancy. Furthermore, the information can be useful to policy makers in developing policies
and strategies that will address factors identified to be influencing teenage pregnancy at a local
level. It is also hoped that addressing factors influencing teenage pregnancy will enable teenagers
to complete their schooling and become financially independent and productive citizens.
An exploratory study design was used for this study, as the aim was to explore the factors
influencing teenage pregnancy. An exploratory study design attempts to identify new knowledge,
new insights, new understandings, and new meanings in addition to what was previously studied
(Brink, 2006). The phenomenon under study was teenage pregnancy and the study participants
were teenage mothers.

The research setting used was Opkoms clinic in the Heidedal location, Mangaung. Opkoms
clinic operates from Monday to Friday between 07:00 to 16:00. Services offered in Opkoms
clinic include primary health care services, HIV care and treatment, tuberculosis screening and
treatment, antenatal and postnatal care and immunisation services.

A study population refers to all the members that have the attributes of what is being studied
(Babbie, 2005). The study population comprised of teenage girls attending Opkoms antenatal and
post-natal clinic who were either pregnant or were already teenage mothers aged between 13 and
19 years old. Hereafter referred to as teenage participants.

Required

a. From the above research topic, write the general research question of the study. - (4%)

b. Write any two independent variables to be addressed in this study. - (4%)

c. Write two research objectives of the study. - (4%)

d. Write two research questions of the study. - (6%)

e. Can you use hypotheses in this study? Yes or no? If your answer is ‘no’, provide reasons.
If your answer is ‘yes’, write two research hypotheses of the study. - (4%)

f. Identify and briefly explain the most appropriate sampling technique that can be used in
this study. (write 200 -250 words) - (8%)

CASE TWO:

Read the following case and then answer the questions that follow. Write your answer in
the booklet provided. (30 marks)

Tarajani conducted a research project for the fulfillment of the requirements for the award of
master degree in Information Systems. Her major concern was to determine the factors
influencing adoption of computerized Management Information System (MIS) in public sector in
Tanzania. Before the final selection of the research area Tarajani had to consider her career goal
as well as other determinants for successfully completion for the research project. The
independent variables of Tarajani’s study were compatibility, costs for the acquisition of
computer hardware, and computer skills. To establish the knowledge gap Tarajani was required
to review the current state of knowledge in the area of MIS. Some of the cited documents
included a journal article authored by Halima Adam in 2013 and published in issue number 42 of
the African Journal of Finance and Management (AJFM). The AJFM is published quarterly and
Halima’s article entitled ‘Challenges in Introducing Computerised MIS in the Emerging
Economies: The Case of Uganda’ appeared from page 29-53 in volume three.

Required:

i. Write the research title for Tarajani’s study

ii. From the above title write the dependent variable.

iii. Write the general research objective for Tarajani’s study

iv. From the general objective and independent variables from the Case Study, write
three possible specific research objectives of the study.

v. Briefly explain four aspects of research ethics that Tarajani should abide to in
conducting this study.

QUESTION TWO:

SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICES (…marks each carry … marks)

1. What is the purpose of basic research?

a. Solve social problems and find which policies are best.

b. Improve social programs so they become more effective.

c. Invent new taxonomies and jargon.

d. Create fundamental knowledge about how the social world works.

2. What kind of research topic should be avoided?

a) Vague subject
 b) too broad subject

c) Highly technical subject

d) All of the above

3. The idea that subjects must voluntarily participate in research and in order to do so must fully
understand the possible risks involved in participation is part of what ethical obligation?

a. Protecting Subjects’ or Respondents’ Identities

b. Informed Consent

c. Induction

d. Publication

4. If a researcher tells respondents that their responses can be connected to their identities but
he/she promises not to disclose that information publicly, what has the researcher promised
to the subjects?

a. Informed Consent

b. Anonymity

c. Confidentiality

d. All of the above

5. What initiates the process of research?

a. Problem

b. significance of the study

c. Hypothesis

d. Literature

6. Which of the following should NOT be included in the background of the study?

a. Reason why the study is conducted

 b. Statement of the problem

c. Discussion about the study variables

d. Theory to support the study

7. It sets the boundaries of the study or scope

a. Statement of the problem

b. Delimitation of the Study

c. Review of Related Literature

d. Significance of the Study

8. Which part of the research reveals the objectives of the study

a. Definition of Terms

b. Statement of the Problem

c. Significance of the Study

d. Delimitation of the Study

9. "Students taught life skills by programmed instruction will achieve at a higher level than
those life skills by the traditional method." The independent variable in this hypothesis is:

a) Students

b) Programmed instruction

c) level of achievement

d) method of instruction

10. In the example in question 9, the dependent variable is:

a) Students

b) Programmed instruction

c) level of achievement
 d) method of instruction

11. Magulu is interested in understanding the factors which lead to happiness. After conducting a
research, he finds happiness is largely determined by having a moderate number of close
friends. In his study, “happiness” is what?

a. An Independent Variable

b. Concept

c. Dependent Variable

d. None of the above

12. In exploratory research one does all of the following, EXCEPT:

a. Become familiar with the basic facts, people and concerns involved.

b. Generate many ideas and develop tentative hypotheses.

c. Determine the feasibility of doing additional research.

d. Test a theory or explanation.

13. Why do you need to review the existing literature?

a) To make sure you have a long list of references

b) Because without it, you could never reach the required word-count

c) To find out what is already known about your area of interest

d) To help in your general studying

14. To read critically means:

a) Taking an opposing point of view to the ideas and opinions expressed

b) Skimming through the material because most of it is just padding

c) Evaluating what you read in terms of your own research

d) Being negative about something before you read it

15. What sort of data is income?

A) Ratio B) Nominal C) Ordinal D) Categorical

16. What sort of variable is shoe size?

A) Nominal

B) Dependent

C) Ordinal

D) Ratio

QUESTION THREE

______________________________________________________________________________

In your answer sheet shade “A” to represent a “TRUE” statement/question and “B” for a
“FALSE” statement/question i.e A=True & B=False (15 Marks)

1. Primary sources are those publications in which researchers report the results of their
investigations.

2. Researchers consider the scientific method to be one of many ways to produce reliable
and accurate knowledge.

3. The scientific method involves answering questions through systematic and public data-
collection and analysis.

4. A sample is the term that refers to the group surveyed; when the survey is not
administered to all members of the population.

5. Simple random sampling involves you selecting the sample at random from the sampling
frame using either random number tables or a computer.

6. Choice of sampling technique or techniques is dependent on your research question(s)

and objectives and the feasibility of gaining access to the data.

7. Experiments differ from other types of research in two basic ways: comparison of
treatments, and the manipulation of one or more dependent variables by the researcher.

8. In order to be able to conduct simple random sampling, there needs to exist a list of all
possible subjects/objects from the total population of interest.

9. Sampling has its disadvantage for quantitative research because statistical procedures
cannot be utilized to analyze the data.
 10. Experimental research is unique in that it is the only type of research that directly
attempts to influence a particular variable, and it is the only type that, when used
properly, can really test hypotheses about cause-and-effect relationships.

11. Experimental studies are never used in management and business research.

12. Using the case study in management and business research is usually restricted to
researchers who are employed in the organization being researched.

13. Triangulation refers to the use of different data collection techniques within one study in
order to ensure that the data are telling you what you think they are telling you.

14. It is generally impossible to conduct experimental research outside of the laboratory.

15. Empirical research is invited when the problem question and hypothesis focus on current
descriptions and relationships, and when the data are quantitative in nature.
The problem question and hypotheses, and the quantitative nature of the data both invite
use of empirical research methods.

QUESTION FOUR:

Fill out the table below as required.

SN RESEARCH NUMBER TYPE OF SCALE OF RESEARCH

OBJECTIVE OF DATA MEASUREMENT APPROACH
BARIABLES
1 To identify the
characteristics of an
effective leadership
style.
2 To determine the
level of student
performance at
IFM.
3. To find out the
differences in
leadership approach
between leaders in
hierarchy culture
and leaders in
collegial culture.
4. To determine the
association between
length of experience
 and innovation
public sector.
5. To find out the
impact of work
motivation on
workers
commitment and
performance.

MSU 07401 ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS

QUESTION FIVE:

“Research problems are not ‘given’. They are detected and constructed. Moreover, the process of
constructing a research problem is not quite straightforward and often involves a lot of back-and-
forth adjustments”. With focus on the extract given above discuss the qualities of a good research
problem prior to engaging in any research project

QUESTION SIX

Using relevant examples differentiate the following terminologies as used in research

a) Scientific methods from arbitrary methods

b) Applied research from fundamental research

c) Research hypothesis from research question

d) Research methods from research methodology

e) Probability sampling from Non-probability sampling

QUESTION SEVEN:

Critically discuss the reasons for review existing literature in his research project.