QUESTION ONE

a. What is a dummy variable? (2 Marks)

b. Distinguish between basic and applied research (4 Marks)
c. Identify the structure of basic and applied research reports, indicating clearly the differences and
similarities (4 Marks)
d. State the null and alternate hypotheses for the following research questions (2 Marks Each)

Research Question Null Hypothesis Alternate Hypothesis

Does job satisfaction impacts labour turnover?
Is there any difference in wages received by male and female workers
in the banking industry?
Does fertilizer technology improve farm outcomes?

Does Household size influences household expenditure?

Is ethnicity related to beverage consumption?

e. Below is a multivariate regression model for a time series study into the determinants of Y (private
domestic consumption)
𝑌𝑡 = 𝛽1 + 𝛽2 𝑋2𝑡 + 𝛽3 𝑋3𝑡 + 𝛽4 𝑋4𝑡 + 𝛽5 𝑋5𝑡 + 𝜀𝑡
i. Identify the items in the model above (2 Marks)
ii. What is the role of in the regression model? (1 Mark)
iii. Define Multicollinearity (1 Mark)

f. In a study of the determinants of household consumption, the researcher, using data on 5000
farmers in the cocoa growing regions of Ghana, computed the Pearson’s product Moment
correlation coefficients and the results are shown below:
Variable | Partial Corr.
----------------------+----------------
Gender | -0.2608
Educational Level | 0.6955
Household Size | -0.3780
Number of Spouses | 0.4558
Household Wealth | 0.9140
Farm Size | 0.8901
Average Farm Income | 0.7531

i. Interpret the correlation table above (3 Marks)

ii. What are the limitations of correlation measures? (2 Marks)
iii. What is the most appropriate analytical method to assess the determinants of
household consumption? (1 Mark)

Examiner: Robert Abebreseh Page 1

QUESTION TWO

a. What is a representative sample? (3 Marks)

b. What are the steps to follow to obtain a representative sample? (4 Marks)
c. Identify four (4) factors to consider in choosing the appropriate sample size ( 4 Marks)
d. Distinguish between validity and reliability. Give three (3) types of each (4 Marks)

QUESTION THREE

a. Distinguish between sample size and sampling frame. (3 Marks)

b. State three (3) differences between probability and non-probability sampling (3 Marks)
c. State and explain three (3) each of the types of probability and non-probability sampling (3 Marks)
d. Identify and briefly explain the types of research design methods, stating clearly when each method is
used (4 Marks)
e. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research? (2 Marks)

QUESTION FOUR
a) What are the steps to be following in questionnaire design? (4 Marks)
b) What is the difference between closed-ended and open-ended questions? Give an example of each.(4
Marks)
c) Why do you pre-test a questionnaire? (3 Marks)
d) In choosing between self-completion and interviewer administered survey, what respondent
characteristics should the researcher consider (4 marks)

QUESTION FIVE
g. Distinguish between basic and applied research (2 Marks)
h. In a study of the determinants of telecommunication network selection decision in Ghana, a level 300
researcher raises the following research questions:

1. Does age influence telecommunication network selection decision?

2. Does ethnicity influence telecommunication network selection decision?
3. Is there a relationship between educational level and telecommunication network selection
decision?
4. Does service quality impact telecommunication network selection decision?
5. Does religion influences telecommunication network selection decision?
6. Does family tradition influence telecommunication network selection decision

State the appropriate null and alternate hypotheses (3 Marks)

i. How does a researcher select a topic or research area (2 Marks)

j. List five
k. List and briefly describe the elements of a research proposal (3 Marks).

Examiner: Robert Abebreseh Page 2

QUESTION SIX
a. Distinguish between directional and non-directional hypothesis (2 Marks)
b. What is a hypothesis? How is a hypothesis created? How is a hypothesis tested? (3 Marks)
c. List four ethical Obligations of the Research Participant (2 Marks)
d. List two each ethical Obligations of the Decision Maker before and after the research (4 Marks)

QUESTION SEVEN
a. Identify (5) factors in you consider in selecting either self-completion or interviewer administered
survey. (2.5 Marks)
b. List the steps to be following in questionnaire design? (2.5 Marks)
c. Why do you pre-test a questionnaire? (2 Marks)
d. In which situations is non-probability sampling preferred to probability sampling? (3 Marks)

QUESTION EIGHT
a) What are the three phases of the basic business research process? Briefly explain each. (5
Marks)
b) Define Type I error, Type II, and Type III, and identify the type of error that researchers
control. (5 Marks)
c) i. Distinguish between a one –tailed and two tailed test, and explain why a Type III error
is possible only with one- tailed test. (3 Marks)
ii. Alpha (𝛼) is used to measure the error for decisions concerning true null hypothesis.
What is beta (𝛽) error used to measure? (2 Marks)
d) What are the steps to be following in questionnaire design? (5 Marks)
e) In choosing between self-completion and interviewer administered survey, what
respondent characteristics should the researcher consider (5 marks)
f) Suppose a company wished to do a research project testing whether a level of
management could be removed from the organization without any serious negative
consequences. Should this project be conducted by in-house researchers or by outside
consultants? (5 Marks)

Examiner: Robert Abebreseh Page 3