2007
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I take this opportunity first to thank God, the creator of the universe and all humanity, for
bringing our life’s paths together. Next, I am grateful to Kenyatta University (KU) for giving
me the opportunity to use School of Business Computer lab when I was developing this notes.
Am also indebted to The Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) for also allowing me to use
their computer lab and to learn more about Research. My special Hongera goes to charity for
provoking me to take career in research even when I doubted myself. Thanks for seeing the
potential in me.
I am indebted to Co- consultant colleague Prof. Peter Kibas for mentoring and enabling me to
make a giant step in my career in Research, Training, project Monitoring & Evaluation or in
summary consultancy. Not forgetting my son Muathe junior and daughter Faith for your
many questions why I was away when you needed my company not knowing I was in a
serious process of developing these notes. To all my students both in KU and KIM
specifically, Ngugi Nkuru F. (KU), Misiani P. (KU), Kaguri J. (KIM) and also my classmate
at Master’s level, Mugalla Khamati (KIM), Muthoka R. (KIM), Tinega G. (KIM), Adam G.
(ST.Pauls University-limuru), Kirugi J.R. (ST.Pauls University-limuru) and many others.
Last but not least to my colleagues at PhD class especially Evans Mwiti for also encouraging
me
As I finish writing these notes, I do confess that I will definitely be good ambassador and
advocate of Research as a better model of making sound decision whether social on Business.
Muathe SMA 2007 2
, ! "
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................... 2
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODS ........................................................................ 5
Definition of Research ............................................................................................... 5
Science and the Scientific Approach ......................................................................... 5
Scientific Methods ..................................................................................................... 7
Qualities of a Good Research .................................................................................... 8
Importance of Knowing Research Methods .............................................................. 8
Limitation of Research Methods .................................................................................... 8
RESEARCH PROPOSAL ............................................................................................. 9
Types of Proposal ...................................................................................................... 9
Components of a Proposal ......................................................................................... 9
Format of a Proposal and a Project .......................................................................... 10
a) Proposal Format ................................................................................................. 10
b) Project Format .................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 12
1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................ 12
1.2 Statement of the problem ....................................................................................... 12
1.3 Objectives of the study .......................................................................................... 13
1.3.1 General objective ............................................................................................... 13
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ......................................................................................... 13
1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 13
1.5 Importance/Significance of the study ............................................................... 14
1.6 Limitation of the study .................................................................................... 14
1.7 Scope of the study .......................................................................................... 15
1.8 Framework of the study .................................................................................. 15
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 16
2.1 Definition of Literature Review ............................................................................. 16
2.2 Steps in carrying out literature Review ................................................................... 16
2.3. Sources of Literature ............................................................................................ 16
2.4. Tips on good Reviewing of Literature.................................................................... 17
2.5. Evaluation of Literature Review ............................................................................ 17
2.6. The Scope of Literature Review ............................................................................ 18
2.7. Purpose of Literature Review ................................................................................ 18
2.8. Types of Referencing ........................................................................................... 19
2.8.1 Referencing within Text-APA Styles of Citation .............................................. 19
2.8.2 End of Text References or Bibliography .......................................................... 22
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................. 23
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 23
3.2 Types of Research ................................................................................................. 23
3.2.1 Basic Vs Applied research .............................................................................. 23
3.2.2 “Evaluation” research ..................................................................................... 23
3.2.3 “Performance-monitoring research”................................................................. 23
3.2.4 Qualitative and quantitative research ............................................................... 23
3.2.5 Descriptive Research/Survey research ............................................................. 25
3.2.6 Historical research .......................................................................................... 25
3.2.7 Developmental studies .................................................................................... 26
3.2.8 Analytical Research........................................................................................ 26
3.2.9 Conceptual Vs Empirical ................................................................................ 26
3.3 Research design .................................................................................................... 26
Muathe SMA 2007 3
, 3.3.1. Exploratory Research design .......................................................................... 27
3.3.2 Conclusive research design ............................................................................. 27
3.3.3 Case study ..................................................................................................... 29
3.4 The Validity and Reliability of a Questionnaire ....................................................... 30
3.4. 1. Reliability .................................................................................................... 30
3.4.2. Validity ........................................................................................................ 30
3.5 Measurement concepts .......................................................................................... 35
3.6 Population and sample........................................................................................... 39
3.7 Sampling technique-.............................................................................................. 40
3.8 Selecting Your Sample .......................................................................................... 41
3.9 Data Collection Methods and Procedure ................................................................. 43
3.9.1 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................ 43
3.9.2 Research Procedure ........................................................................................ 56
3.10 Data Analysis Methods ........................................................................................ 56
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ..... 61
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 61
4.2 Analysis of the Response Rate........................................................................... 61
4.3 Analysis of the Background Information ........................................................... 61
4.4 Quantitative Analysis ......................................................................................... 61
4.5 Qualitative Analysis ........................................................................................... 61
4.3 Chapter Summary .............................................................................................. 61
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............ 62
5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 62
5.2 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................ 62
5.3 Answers to Research Questions/ Discussion ........................................................... 62
5.4 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 62
5.5 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 62
REFERENCE................................................................................................................. 63
Muathe SMA 2007 4
, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I take this opportunity first to thank God, the creator of the universe and all humanity, for
bringing our life’s paths together. Next, I am grateful to Kenyatta University (KU) for giving
me the opportunity to use School of Business Computer lab when I was developing this notes.
Am also indebted to The Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) for also allowing me to use
their computer lab and to learn more about Research. My special Hongera goes to charity for
provoking me to take career in research even when I doubted myself. Thanks for seeing the
potential in me.
I am indebted to Co- consultant colleague Prof. Peter Kibas for mentoring and enabling me to
make a giant step in my career in Research, Training, project Monitoring & Evaluation or in
summary consultancy. Not forgetting my son Muathe junior and daughter Faith for your
many questions why I was away when you needed my company not knowing I was in a
serious process of developing these notes. To all my students both in KU and KIM
specifically, Ngugi Nkuru F. (KU), Misiani P. (KU), Kaguri J. (KIM) and also my classmate
at Master’s level, Mugalla Khamati (KIM), Muthoka R. (KIM), Tinega G. (KIM), Adam G.
(ST.Pauls University-limuru), Kirugi J.R. (ST.Pauls University-limuru) and many others.
Last but not least to my colleagues at PhD class especially Evans Mwiti for also encouraging
me
As I finish writing these notes, I do confess that I will definitely be good ambassador and
advocate of Research as a better model of making sound decision whether social on Business.
Muathe SMA 2007 2
, ! "
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................... 2
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODS ........................................................................ 5
Definition of Research ............................................................................................... 5
Science and the Scientific Approach ......................................................................... 5
Scientific Methods ..................................................................................................... 7
Qualities of a Good Research .................................................................................... 8
Importance of Knowing Research Methods .............................................................. 8
Limitation of Research Methods .................................................................................... 8
RESEARCH PROPOSAL ............................................................................................. 9
Types of Proposal ...................................................................................................... 9
Components of a Proposal ......................................................................................... 9
Format of a Proposal and a Project .......................................................................... 10
a) Proposal Format ................................................................................................. 10
b) Project Format .................................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 12
1.1 Background of the study ........................................................................................ 12
1.2 Statement of the problem ....................................................................................... 12
1.3 Objectives of the study .......................................................................................... 13
1.3.1 General objective ............................................................................................... 13
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ......................................................................................... 13
1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 13
1.5 Importance/Significance of the study ............................................................... 14
1.6 Limitation of the study .................................................................................... 14
1.7 Scope of the study .......................................................................................... 15
1.8 Framework of the study .................................................................................. 15
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 16
2.1 Definition of Literature Review ............................................................................. 16
2.2 Steps in carrying out literature Review ................................................................... 16
2.3. Sources of Literature ............................................................................................ 16
2.4. Tips on good Reviewing of Literature.................................................................... 17
2.5. Evaluation of Literature Review ............................................................................ 17
2.6. The Scope of Literature Review ............................................................................ 18
2.7. Purpose of Literature Review ................................................................................ 18
2.8. Types of Referencing ........................................................................................... 19
2.8.1 Referencing within Text-APA Styles of Citation .............................................. 19
2.8.2 End of Text References or Bibliography .......................................................... 22
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .............................................. 23
3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 23
3.2 Types of Research ................................................................................................. 23
3.2.1 Basic Vs Applied research .............................................................................. 23
3.2.2 “Evaluation” research ..................................................................................... 23
3.2.3 “Performance-monitoring research”................................................................. 23
3.2.4 Qualitative and quantitative research ............................................................... 23
3.2.5 Descriptive Research/Survey research ............................................................. 25
3.2.6 Historical research .......................................................................................... 25
3.2.7 Developmental studies .................................................................................... 26
3.2.8 Analytical Research........................................................................................ 26
3.2.9 Conceptual Vs Empirical ................................................................................ 26
3.3 Research design .................................................................................................... 26
Muathe SMA 2007 3
, 3.3.1. Exploratory Research design .......................................................................... 27
3.3.2 Conclusive research design ............................................................................. 27
3.3.3 Case study ..................................................................................................... 29
3.4 The Validity and Reliability of a Questionnaire ....................................................... 30
3.4. 1. Reliability .................................................................................................... 30
3.4.2. Validity ........................................................................................................ 30
3.5 Measurement concepts .......................................................................................... 35
3.6 Population and sample........................................................................................... 39
3.7 Sampling technique-.............................................................................................. 40
3.8 Selecting Your Sample .......................................................................................... 41
3.9 Data Collection Methods and Procedure ................................................................. 43
3.9.1 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................ 43
3.9.2 Research Procedure ........................................................................................ 56
3.10 Data Analysis Methods ........................................................................................ 56
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ..... 61
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 61
4.2 Analysis of the Response Rate........................................................................... 61
4.3 Analysis of the Background Information ........................................................... 61
4.4 Quantitative Analysis ......................................................................................... 61
4.5 Qualitative Analysis ........................................................................................... 61
4.3 Chapter Summary .............................................................................................. 61
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............ 62
5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 62
5.2 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................ 62
5.3 Answers to Research Questions/ Discussion ........................................................... 62
5.4 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 62
5.5 Recommendations .............................................................................................. 62
REFERENCE................................................................................................................. 63
Muathe SMA 2007 4
