VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2023/2024
END OF FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION
FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS AT OYIBI ACCRA
VVU
Excellence Integrity Service
COURSE CODE : DSAD 305
COURSE TITLE : BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODS
LECTURER : DR. NICHOLAS ANDOH
DURATION : 2 HOURS
STUDENT’S ID :
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Attempt all the section A questions for 30 marks
Be ORDERLY and NEAT in the presentation of your material.
Answer TWO Questions Section B ANSWER BOOKLET provided.
TIME ALLOWED 1 HOUR FOR SECTION A
Instructions: you are to attempt all questions in this section for 30 marks. Each question is followed by
four options A-D tick the correct answer.
1.What is the primary purpose of the background to the study in research?
A) To provide a summary of the findings
B) To highlight the main challenges of the research
C) To provide context and justify the importance of the research
D) To define all key terms used in the study
2. The background to the study section typically includes:
A) Research hypotheses and variables
B) A review of past studies and theoretical framework
C) The significance of the study
D) Detailed methodology of the research
3. Which of the following best describes the statement of the problem in a research paper?
A) A summary of research results
B) The rationale for conducting the research
C) A description of the challenges the research addresses
D) A list of research questions
4. What is the main function of the statement of the problem in business research?
A) To explain the benefits of the research to society
B) To identify and describe the research gap
C) To summarize the conclusions
D) To define the scope of the study
5. In the statement of the problem, researchers aim to:
A) Analyze previous studies and results
B) Present the data collected
C) Identify the research gap and justify why the study is necessary
D) Review literature related to the topic
6.The dependent variable is the …
a) Continuous variable
b) Factor which is measured, manipulated, or selected by the experimenter
c) Most reliable variable
d) Variable a researcher is interested in
7.All the followings are sources of research problems except……………. The researcher’s
a) Government policies that are being implement
b) Personal experience as a practitioner
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c) Personal financial status
d) Suggestions and recommendations in published and unpublished research projects
8.The type of variable that can take any value between two numbers is referred to as………. Variable
a) Confounding
b) Continuous
c) Extraneous
d) Independent
9.Which of the following does not form part of the characteristics of a good research question?
a) Relates to the research problem
b) They are clear
c) They are specific
d) Very speculative
10.A tentative and formal prediction about the research problem, two or more variables in the population
being studied is the research …………………….
a) Extraneous variables
b) Hypothesis
c) Objectives
d) Research questions
11.When the researcher is intellectually committed to a particular outcome or findings from his research ,
then his hypothesis is said to be ………………
a) Alternate
b) Directional
c) Non-directional
d) Null
12.The type of hypothesis which says that you should not expect any difference in outcomes between
groups is known as the ……………. Hypothesis
a) Alternate
b) Directional
c) Non-directional
d) Null
13.Which of the following is an importance of research hypothesis?
a) Guides the direction of the study
b) Projects the limitations of the study indirectly
c) Provides bases for suggestions and recommendations
d) Validates the research questions
14.The scope of the study can also be referred to as the
a) Delimitation
b) Hypothesis
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c) Limitation
d) Significance of the study
15. Which of these variables are primarily manipulated by the researcher?
a) Dependent
b) Independent
c) Mediating
d) Moderating
16. All the following are purposes of literature review in research except …………………..
a) Creating a format for data analysis
b) Critically examining the research methods employed in research
c) Projecting the importance of your study and its relationship with other studies on the topic
d) Summarizing the existing study and synthesizing it in other to develop a new perspective
17. Gender can be described as a/an…variable
a) Categorical
b) Confounding variable
c) Continuous
d) extraneous
18. In research, limitations refer to:
A) The findings that confirm the hypotheses
B) The constraints and potential weaknesses that may affect the validity or generalizability of the results
C) The definitions of terms
D) The methods used to analyze the data
19. The significance of the study is typically included to:
A) Describe the theoretical framework
B) Outline the benefits and importance of the research to various stakeholders
C) Justify the scope of the study
D) Provide definitions for key terms
20. In the significance of the study, researchers explain:
A) How they will collect data
B) The importance and potential impact of the research findings
C) The limitations they encountered
D) The theories guiding the research
21. Why is it important to define key terms in a research study?
A) To ensure the research is methodologically sound
B) To provide clarity and avoid ambiguity in understanding specific concepts
C) To summarize the conclusions
D) To highlight the limitations of the research
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22. Which of the following is typically considered a limitation of the study?
A) Inadequate sample size
B) Broad research objectives
C) Well-defined key terms
D) Strong theoretical framework
23. Limitations of the study often include:
A) Time constraints, lack of resources, and uncontrollable factors
B) A detailed literature review
C) The theoretical basis for the research
D) The research design and methodology
24. Why is it important to acknowledge limitations in a study?
A) To provide room for criticism
B) To highlight the weaknesses that might influence the study’s conclusions
C) To justify the research hypotheses
D) To ensure the study is comprehensive
25. Which section of a research paper typically follows the statement of the problem?
A) Data collection
B) Research objectives
C) Conclusion
D) Literature review
26. The statement of the problem section primarily addresses:
A) The steps taken to analyze the data
B) The issues or gaps in existing knowledge that the research will focus on
C) The summary of previous studies
D) The detailed methodology
27. When defining key terms, researchers should:
A) Use standard dictionary definitions
B) Provide operational definitions based on how the terms are used in the study
C) Avoid technical jargon and simplify language
D) Refer to definitions from previous studies only
28. What does the significance of the study typically aim to demonstrate?
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A) How the study fits into the theoretical framework
B) Why the research is important and who benefits from it
C) What data collection methods will be used
D) Which terms will be defined in the research
29. In the scope of the study, the researcher defines:
A) The research gap
B) The specific boundaries and extent of the research
C) The results of the study
D) The expected findings
30. Which of the following would you expect to find in the limitations of the study?
A) A summary of the research objectives
B) A discussion of the constraints or weaknesses in the research process
C) A review of literature related to the topic
D) An explanation of the research methodology
SECTION B
Instructions: you are to attempt ANY TWO questions in this section for 30 Marks.
QUESTION ONE
a) Globally, there are many challenges associated with or impeding the quality of research conducted
in many part of the world including Ghana. As a business student of Valley View University,
discuss five (5) challenges associated with business research conducted in Ghana and other
contexts 10 MARKS
b) State any FIVE elements of a study that are heighted in an abstract of a study 5 MARKS
QUESTION TWO
a). State and explain five (5) main components of the chapter one of a research projects 10 MARKS
b). State and explain any five (5) importance of hypothesis in business research 5 MARKS
QUESTION THREE
1 a) State and explain any five (5) characteristics of a research objectives to the researcher 10 MARKS
b). Explain the following terms
c) Confounding variable 1 MARKS
d) Dependent variable 2 MARKS
e) Independent variable 2 MARKS
QUESTION FOUR
a) Distinguish between deductive and inductive approach to research 5 MARKS
b) Differentiate between validity and reliability in research 5 MARKS
c) Differentiate between conceptual framework and theoretical framework 5 MARKS
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GOOD LUCK
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