UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2016/2017
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN
DATA ANALYTICS/INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MDA5401 MISM 5401 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS
ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS
DATE: JULY, 2017 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One & ANY OTHER TWO questions.
QUESTION ONE (20 MARKS)
(a) Briefly describe the following concepts as used in quantitative test of hypothesis.
i. Significance level (2 Marks)
ii. Effect size (2 Marks)
iii. Statistical power (2 Marks)
iv. Type II Error (2 Marks)
(b) Explain how qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method research differ in terms of
i. Process of data collection (2 Marks)
ii. Nature and type of data collected (2 Marks)
(c) Compare and contrast ethnographic and case studies research designs. (3 Marks)
(d) Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a common data analytic technique used in quantitative
research. Briefly describe a research problem where the use of ANOVA model could be
appropriate to analyze the data. Be sure to identify the variables in the study and their scale
of measurement.
(5 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (15 MARKS)
Describe conditions under which each of the following statistical models can be appropriate for
data analysis:
a) Analysis of variance (3 Marks)
b) Linear regression (3 Marks)
c) Factor analysis (3 Marks)
d) T-test (3 Marks)
e) Logistic regression analysis (3 Marks)
QUESTION THREE (15 MARKS)
a) What is the usefulness of literature review in research? (5 Marks)
b) Triangulation is a useful approach that enhances the credibility of a qualitative research.
Define triangulation. Briefly describe how you could use triangulation in a study.
(5 Marks)
c) Explain the difference between “True – experiment” and “Quasi-experiment” and
indicate the potential challenge each will present in a research project.
(5 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR (15 MARKS)
Briefly explain the meaning of any FIVE of the following terms as used in research:
a) Action research (3 Marks)
b) Simple random sampling (3 Marks)
c) Validity (3 Marks)
d) Standard error (3 Marks)
e) Random assignment (3 Marks)
f) Type I error (3 Marks)
g) Pearson correlation coefficient (3 Marks)
