APPENDIX A: ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Surname
Phokane

Katlego John
First Name/s
186092
Student Number
Research and Quantitative Methods
Subject
One (1)
Assignment Number
Mr Peter Oseisekyere
Tutor’s Name
N/A
Examination Venue
16 October 2022
Date Submitted
√
Submission (√) First Submission Resubmission

Postal Address

[email protected]
E-Mail
(Work)
(Home)
Contact Numbers
(Cell) 072 850 3408

Course/Intake Master of Business Administration / January 2022

Declaration: I hereby declare that the assignment submitted is an original piece of work produced by myself.

Signature: Date: 16 October 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Pages

Question 1 3
A suitable title for the study 3
State the aim of the proposed study 3
Research objectives that study will attempt to achieve 3
Research philosophy 3
Research design 5

Question 2 7
The Sampling Methodology for the proposed study 7
The Method of Data Collection for the proposed study 8

Question 3 10
The research instrument developed 10
Research instrument exhaustively address all the four research questions 11
Validity 11
The research instrument and the minimum standard of research quality 12
Major measurements that should be included in the research instrument 13

Question 4 13
Steps to follow, to analyses the data 13
Method of data analysis, the aid of the statistical decision tree. 14
Literature review process assist the data analysis process 15
Evidence-based recommendations 16

Reference 17

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Question 1

1.1) Municipality and a suitable title for the study

An investigation on the characteristics of entrepreneurs in transition economies, the

constraints and incentives in which they startup businesses and importance of
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship activities for the development of transition
economies in the City of Joburg (CoJ)

1.2) State the aim of the proposed study

The study aimed at empowering youth, by establishing and retain small businesses
(MSMEs) and reduce high unemployment rate, eliminate inequality and reduces poverty
with resilience at City of Joburg.

1.3) Research objectives that study will attempt to achieve

• Ameliorate entrepreneurs who build sustainable MSMEs and develop
entrepreneurial capability
• Construct the relationship between entrepreneurial capacity and the
sustainability of MSMEs
• Construct the relationship between entrepreneurial capacity and the
performance of sustained MSMEs
• Expand practical recommendation that can be made to new MSMEs in terms
of how they can achieve sustainability and superior performance

1.4) Research philosophy

A belief about the way in which data about a phenomenon should be gathered, analysed
and used. The term epistemology (what is known to be true) as opposed to doxology
(what is believed to be true) encompasses the various philosophies of research approach.
1.4.1) Positivism

Reality is stable and can be observed and described from an objective viewpoint without
interfering with the phenomena being studied. This often involves manipulation of reality
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with variations in only a single independent variable to identify regularities and to form
relationships between, some of the constituent elements of the social world. Predictions
can be made based on the previously observed and explained realities and their inter-
relationships. Positivism has a long and rich historical tradition.

1.4.2) Critical realism

Says that what you see is what you get: what we experience through our senses portrays
the world accurately. The philosophy of critical realism focuses on explaining what we
see and experience, in terms of the underlying structures of reality that shape the
observable events
1.4.3) Interpretivism

The study of phenomena in their natural environment is key to the interpretivist

philosophy, together with the acknowledgement that scientists cannot avoid affecting
those phenomena they study. They admit that there may be many interpretations of reality
but maintain that these interpretations are in themselves a part of the scientific knowledge
they are pursuing.
1.4.4) Postmodernism

The role of language and of power relations, seeking to question accepted ways of
thinking and give voice to alternative marginalised views. Postmodernists go even further
than interpretivists in their critique of positivism and objectivism, attributing even more
importance to the role of language

With a positivist stance in mind

Positivism adheres to the view that only factual knowledge gained through observation
including measurement, is trustworthy. In positivism studies the role of the researcher is
limited to data collection and interpretation in an objective way.
The positivist paradigm for examining social reality is predicated on the notion that reason
and observation are the best ways to comprehend human behavior. Or, to put it another
way, science can only be founded on observable, objective facts.

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Positivism is using brief, clear, concise discussion and does not use a descriptive story
from human feelings or subjective interpretation. It does not allow any interpretation
because of the value-free reason. Reflects some theories or basic concepts and applies
it to the object of study.

1.5) Research design

Research design is the framework of research methods and techniques chosen by a

researcher to conduct a study. The design allows researchers to sharpen the research
methods suitable for the subject matter and set up their studies for success.
There are three main types of designs for research:
• Data collection
• Measurement
• Analysis

A chosen research design to be utilised for the proposed study is:

Quantitative research

It is for cases where statistical conclusions to collect actionable insights are essential.
Numbers provide a better perspective for making critical business decisions. Quantitative
research methods are necessary for the growth of any organization. Insights drawn from
complex numerical data and analysis prove to be highly effective when making decisions
about the business’s future. And the following methods will be conducted:

1. Descriptive: A researcher is solely interested in describing the situation or case under

their research study. It is a theory-based design method created by gathering, analysing,
and presenting collected data. This allows a researcher to provide insights into the why
and how of research. Descriptive design helps others better understand the need for the
research. If the problem statement is not clear, you can conduct exploratory research.
2. Experimental: A relationship between the cause and effect of a situation. It is a causal
design where one observes the impact caused by the independent variable on the
dependent variable. It is an efficient research method as it contributes to solving a

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problem. Researchers can have participants change their actions and study how the
people around them react to understand social psychology better.
3. Correlational research: Correlational research is a non-experimental research
technique. It helps researchers establish a relationship between two closely connected
variables. There is no assumption while evaluating a relationship between two other
variables, and statistical analysis techniques calculate the relationship between them.
4. Diagnostic research: The researcher is looking to evaluate the underlying cause of a
specific topic or phenomenon. This method helps one learn more about the factors that
create troublesome situations. This design has three parts of the research:
• Inception of the issue
• Diagnosis of the issue
• Solution for the issue

5. Explanatory research: A researcher’s ideas and thoughts on a subject to further

explore their theories. The study explains unexplored aspects of a subject and details the
research questions what, how, and why.

How do you write the purpose of the study and research design?
• Creating a Purpose Statement
• Clearly define your study as quantitative or qualitative.
• Use words to clarify your intent like “explore” or “compare.”
• Clearly define how the research will take place.
• Discuss who or what will be researched.
• Clarify where the research will take place.

Three of the most influential and common purposes of research are:

• Exploration,
• Description and
• Explanation.

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Question 2

2.1) The Sampling Methodology for the proposed study

2.1.1) Undertake sampling rather than a census for the proposed study

A sample could be more accurate than a (attempted) census if the fact of the exercise
being a census increases the bias from non-sampling error.
• Save Time. Contacting everyone in a population takes time.
• Save Money. The number of people a researcher contacts is directly related to the
cost of a study
• Results can be made available quickly
• Enables characteristics to be tested which could not otherwise be assessed

2.1.2) The target population

The targeted population is micro and medium enterprises in the City of Johannesburg

2.1.3) Probability or non-probability sampling strategy

Probability sampling refers to the selection of a sample from a population, when this
selection is based on the principle of randomisation, random selection or chance.
• Opt to use probability sampling because it involves random selection, allowing
researcher to make strong statistical inferences about the whole group.

• Probability gives all people a chance of being selected and makes results more
likely to accurately reflect the entire population

2.1.4) A suitable method of sampling for the study

I will use probability sampling methods because:

• Probability sampling is also called as random sampling or representative sampling.
• In probability sampling every member of the population has a known (non-zero)
probability of being included in the sample.
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 • The probabilities can be assigned to each unit of the population objectively.
• These techniques need population to be very precisely defined.
• These techniques cannot be used for the population that is too general a category
found almost everywhere in the world.
• For instance, if our target population is defined as college students. It means
person studying at any college of the world is an element of our population.
• In this case probability sampling can be done as the population is precisely defined
and limited to an infinite number of elements.

Probability random sampling methods

• Simple Random Sampling: Every member of the population is equally likely to
be selected).
• Systematic Sampling: Simple Random Sampling in an ordered systematic way,
e.g., every 100th name in the yellow pages.
• Stratified Sampling: Population divided into different groups from which we
sample randomly.
• Cluster Sampling: Population is divided into (geographical) clusters - some
clusters are chosen at random - within cluster units are chosen with Simple
Random Sampling.

2.2) The Method of Data Collection for the proposed study

2.2.1) Instrument and or method of data collection

I will use experimental research, because is an experiment, a procedure carried out to
support or refute a hypothesis or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something
previously untried. But it:
• Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome
occurs when a particular factor is manipulated.
• Experiments vary greatly in goal and scale but always rely on repeatable
procedure and logical analysis of the results

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Types of experimental research
Pre-experimental Research
Either a group or various dependent groups are observed for the effect of the application
of an independent variable which is presumed to cause change. It is the simplest form of
experimental research design and is treated with no control group.
Quasi-experimental Research Design
The quasi-experimental research bearing a resemblance to the true experimental
research, but not the same. The participants are not randomly assigned, and as such,
they are used in settings where randomisation is difficult or impossible.
True Experimental Research
The true experimental research design relies on statistical analysis to approve or disprove
a hypothesis. It is the most accurate type of experimental design and may be carried out
with or without a protest on at least 2 randomly assigned dependent subjects.

2.2.2) Piloting in data collection

Data collection methods in experimental research are the different ways in which data
can be collected for experimental research. They are used in different cases, depending
on the type of research being carried out.
2.2.2.1) Observational Study
It measures and observes the variables of interest without changing existing conditions.
No matter the kind of absurd behavior that is exhibited by the subject during this period,
its condition will not be changed.
2.2.2.2) Simulations
This procedure uses mathematical, physical, or computer models to replicate a real-life
process or situation. It is frequently used when the actual situation is too expensive,
dangerous, or impractical to replicate in real life.
2.2.2.3) Surveys
A survey is a tool used to gather relevant data about the characteristics of a population
and is one of the most common data collection tools. A survey consists of a group of
questions prepared by the researcher, to be answered by the research subject.

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Surveys can be shared with the respondents both physically and electronically. When
collecting data through surveys, the kind of data collected depends on the respondent,
and researchers have limited control over it.

Question 3

3.1) The research instrument developed

3.1.1) Questionnaire method

A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions and other
prompts for the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Although they are
often designed for statistical analysis of the responses, this is not always the case.
Questionnaires have advantages over some other types of surveys in that they are
cheap, do not require as much effort from the questioner as verbal or telephone
surveys, and often have standardized answers that make it simple to compile data. As a
type of survey, questionnaires also have many of the same problems relating to
question construction and wording that exist in other types of opinion polls.
Questionnaires within the former category are commonly part of surveys, whereas
questionnaires in the latter category are commonly part of tests.
Questionnaires with questions that are aggregated into either a scale or index, include
for instance questions that measure:
• latent traits (e.g., personality traits such as extroversion)
• attitudes (e.g., towards immigration)
• an index (e.g., Social Economic Status).
Questionnaire consists of several questions that the respondent must answer in a set
format. A distinction is made between open-ended and closed-ended questions. An
open-ended question asks the respondent to formulate his/her own answer, whereas a
closed-ended question has the respondent pick an answer from a given number of
options. The response options for a closed-ended question should be exhaustive and
mutually exclusive. Four types of response scales for closed-ended questions are
distinguished:

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 • Dichotomous, where the respondent has two options.
• Nominal-polytomous, where the respondent has more than two unordered
options.
• Ordinal-polytomous, where the respondent has more than two ordered options.
• Continuous (Bounded), where the respondent is presented with a continuous
scale.
A respondent’s answer to an open-ended question is coded into a response scale
afterwards.

3.2) Research instrument exhaustively address all the four research questions

Yes, the research instrument exhaustively address all the four research questions.
• Environmental perceptions from instrument developed help to assess
entrepreneurial capability.
• Questions on Personality analysis the relationship between entrepreneurial
capacity and the sustainability of MSMEs
• Personality tests the relationship level between entrepreneurial capacity and the
performance of sustained MSMEs
• On socioeconomic factor the practical recommendation can be analysed and made
to new MSMEs in terms of how they can achieve sustainability and superior
performance

3.3) Validity

Validity is foremost on the mind of those developing measures and that genuine scientific
measurement is foremost in the minds of those who seek valid outcomes from
assessment. refers to how accurately a method measures what it is intended to measure.
If research has high validity, that means it produces results that correspond to real
properties, characteristics, and variations in the physical or social world.
Face validity refers to the degree to which the respondents or laypersons judge the
questionnaire items to be valid. Such judgment is based less on the technical components
of the questionnaire items, but rather on whether the items appear to be measuring a

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construct that is meaningful to the respondents. The major types of validation tests
commonly used while validating a questionnaire are:
3.3.1) Face validation, it is the process of checking the questions in the
questionnaire linguistically and analytically to find out what is supposed to be
measured based on respondent’s understanding of the questions in the questionnaire.
As questioned on the instrument and categorized with themes for different objectives.
3.3.2) Content validation, content validation is a process of examining the contents
of the items of the questionnaire to check whether they represent the entire theoretical
construct of the designed model of the problem under consideration. The significance
of understanding the study objective will help the research with the content
3.3.3) Construct validation, construct is an important parameter in the research
environment and the entire questionnaire is designed to measure one or more
constructs that are related to the research problem under consideration. Active
participation and the purpose of the study objective will help with the validity.
3.3.4) Criterion validation, criterion validity also called concrete validity is a test
related to the measurement of outcome of a questionnaire-based survey.

3.4) The research instrument and the minimum standard of research quality

Qualitative Research
Is designed to provide the researcher a means of understanding a phenomenon by
observing or interacting with the participants of the study. Qualitative researchers are
interested in exploring and explaining phenomenon as they occur in the natural setting. It
satisfices the minimum standard of research quality because:
• Large amounts of information can be collected from many people in a short
period of time and in a relatively cost-effective way.
• Can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited
affect to its validity and reliability.
• The results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and easily quantified by
either a researcher or using a software package.
• Can be analysed more scientifically and objectively than other forms of research.

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 • When data has been quantified, it can be used to compare other research and
may be used to measure change.
• Positivists believe that quantitative data can be used to create new theories and /
or test existing hypotheses.

3.5) Major measurements that should be included in the research instrument

Reliability and validity are the two most important and fundamental features in the
evaluation of any measurement instrument or tool for good research.
• Validity concerns what an instrument measures, and how well it does so.
• Reliability concerns the faith that one can have in the data obtained from the use
of an instrument, that is, the degree to which any measuring tool controls for
random error.
An attempt has been taken here to review the reliability and validity, and threat to them in
some details. The reliability and validity of your results depends on creating a strong
research design, choosing appropriate methods and samples, and conducting the
research carefully and consistently.

Question 4

4.1) Steps to follow, to analyses the data

4.1.1) Clean the data. To get accurate results researchers must clean their
data before analysing it. Remove things such as punctuation, special characters,
HTML tags and duplicate records.
4.1.2) Analyse the data. Use data analysis software and other tools to help
understand the data.
4.1.3) Draw conclusions. Do a deep dive into the data to gain actionable insights.
Then interpret those results to determine the best courses of action.
4.1.4) Visualize the data. Present the information in a way that others can read
and understand. And there are many data visualization techniques. Dashboards
to aggregate the data, making it easy to identify trends and patterns. Many analysis
tools have in-built dashboards. Businesses can also use graphs, maps, charts,

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 bullet points and other methods to present the information. Visualizing the data
helps researchers derive insights by enabling them to compare data sets and
observe relationships.

4.2) Method of data analysis, the aid of the statistical decision tree.

A statistical approach to decision tree modeling is described. In this approach, each

decision in the tree is modeled parametrically as is the process by which an output is
generated from an input and a sequence of decisions. The resulting model yields a
likelihood measure of goodness of fit, allowing ML and MAP estimation techniques to be
utilised. An efficient algorithm is presented to estimate the parameters in the tree. The
model selection problem is presented and several alternative proposals are considered.
A hidden Markov version of the tree is described for data sequences that have temporal
dependencies.

4.2.1) PROBABILITY MODELS FOR DECISION TREES

A likelihood-based approach to decision tree induction requires a probabilistic model of

the process by which data are generated. For a given input x, we assume that a sequence
of probabilistic decision is taken that result in the generation of a corresponding output y.
We do not require that this sequence of decisions have a direct correspondence to a
process, rather the decisions may simply represent an abstract set of “twenty questions”
that specify, with increasing precision, the location of the conditional mean of y on a
nonlinear manifold that relates inputs to mean outputs. Can be adopted to enhance
entrepreneurs who build sustainable MSMEs and develop entrepreneurial capability.

4.2.2) COMPONENT DENSITIES

A wide variety of decision tree models can be obtained by choosing parametric forms for
the component densities in the decision tree. The choice of component densities is
determined by a variety of factors, including the type of problem being solved (regression,
classification, etc.), possible prior knowledge about the form of the regression surface,

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the need for diagnostics of tree performance, and the desire for an interpretable result.
The computational complexity of the overall estimation procedure is also heavily
dependent on the choice of component densities as is the ability to analyze the model
theoretically. Will be utilised for diagnose and attend errors on the relationship between
entrepreneurial capacity, sustainability of MSMEs and the performance of sustained
MSMEs.

4.2.3) HIDDEN MARKOV DECISION TREES

An advantage of formulating a probability model for decision trees lies in the possibility of
combining the decision tree methodology with other probabilistic estimation methods.
One interesting hybrid involves the combination of decision trees with Hidden Markov
Models. To help on practical recommendation that can be made to new MSMEs in terms
of how they can achieve sustainability and superior performance

4.3) Literature review process assist the data analysis process

4.3.1) Improve your methodology

Going through the literature acquaints you with the methodologies that have been
used by others to find answers to research questions like the one you are
investigating. A literature review tells you if others have used procedures and
methods like the ones that you are proposing, which procedures and methods have
worked well for them, and what problems they have encountered.
4.3.2) Broaden your knowledge in your research area

The most important function of the literature review is to ensure you read widely
around the subject area in which you intend to conduct your research project. It is
important that you know what other researchers have found regarding the same or
similar questions, what theories and models have been put forward, and what gaps
exist in the relevant body of knowledge.

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4.4) Evidence-based recommendations

Evidence-based guidelines are defined as those that incorporate a systematic search for
evidence, explicitly evaluate the quality of that evidence, and then espouse
recommendations based on the best available evidence, even when that evidence is not
high quality. Steps on how evidence-based recommendation are made:
4.4.1) Look for evidence

It involves researching to determine the highest-quality evidence that can provide

answers to your questions. You can start with a broad search and focus on quality
sources, evidence such as journals and publications that normally only accept
high-quality studies.
4.4.2) Analyze the evidence

Analyzing the evidence to determine its relevance, quality, validity, potential

impact and applicability to your specific case.
4.4.3) Integrate your finding

Incorporating the study findings into plans. Consider the evidence and new
information obtained from the studies.
4.4.4) Evaluate the outcome

Monitor the processes/plan to see whether your approach is leading to the

expected results or whether you need to consider other methods.
4.4.5) Share the information

Sharing also enables other professionals to offer insights and critiques from a
neutral perspective.

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