MAASAI MARA UNIVERSITY
REGULAR UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
2016/2017 ACADEMIC YEAR
THIRD YEAR SECOND SEMESTER

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY

COURSE CODE: SOC 312
COURSE TITLE: QUALITATIVE METHODS

DATE: 26TH JANUARY, 2016				TIME: 1100 – 1300HRS 
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Answer Question ONE and any other TWO questions

					This paper consists of TWO printed pages. Please turn over.
SECTION A:
1  (a) Explain qualitative methods 				  (1 Mark)
 (b) List and explain the various methods applied in the qualitative approach                                   (8 Marks)
   (c) Discuss how the open ended interviews are useful in research today
	                                                                                                            (10 Marks)
  (d) Explain how in-depth interviews are utilized in contemporary social   research 			                           (11 Marks)

SECTION B:
2. Explain the meaning of Focus Group Discussion and show how it is employed in a social research						    (20 Marks)

3. Describe a key informant in a social research and show how data can be generated qualitatively in a contemporary research 	
                 (20 Marks)
4.  (a) Explain qualitative analysis and indicate the steps undertaken in this direction                                 (10 Marks)
   (b) Make brief notes on the following headings:
           (i). Public variable 						(2 Marks)	 
           (ii). Private variable 					(2 Marks)	 
           (iii). Independent variable					(2 Marks)	 
           (iv). Dependent variable 					(2 Marks)
           (v). Intervening variable 					(2 Marks)
									         
5(a). Account on the application of data matrix in a social research(10 Marks)
  (b). Explain how the rules below apply in a research:
           (i) Axiomatic rules						 (3 Marks)
           (ii) Deductive rules						 (3 Marks)
          (iii) Methodological rules 					 (3 Marks)

6. Examine the philosophical and theoretical bases of qualitative methodology 
                                                                                          (20 Marks)

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