Kelvin kimani sct121-c004-0597/2022 ict project cat 2

QUESTION1.plagiarism and its demerits

Plagiarism in the context of IT projects refers to the act of using or copying someone else's work,
ideas, or code without giving proper credit or authorization. In IT projects, this can occur when
developers, designers, or content creators copy code, designs, or content from others without
acknowledging the original sources or obtaining the necessary permissions.

Demerits of plagiarism in IT projects include:

Ethical Concerns: Plagiarism is a breach of ethical standards as it involves dishonesty and

undermines the principles of integrity and originality that should be upheld in the IT industry.

Legal Consequences: Plagiarism can lead to legal issues, especially if copyrighted materials are used
without proper authorization, potentially resulting in lawsuits and penalties.

QUESTION 2strategies

Research strategies are systematic approaches that researchers use to gather data and answer their
research questions. Here are five common research strategies:

Experimental Research: In this strategy, researchers manipulate variables to study cause-and-effect

relationships. They have control over the experimental conditions and use randomization to assign
participants to different groups.

Survey Research: This strategy involves collecting data through structured questionnaires or
interviews from a large number of participants. Surveys help researchers gather insights about
attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.

Qualitative Research: Qualitative research focuses on exploring and understanding complex

phenomena by collecting non-numerical data, such as interviews, observations, and textual analysis.
It aims to uncover in-depth insights and interpretations.

Case Study Research: Case study strategy involves an in-depth investigation of a single individual,
group, organization, or event. Researchers use multiple data sources and analyze the context to gain
comprehensive understanding and draw broader implications.

Content Analysis: Content analysis is a research strategy that involves systematically analyzing text,
audio, video, or visual content to identify patterns, themes, or trends. It is often used to examine
media, documents, or other textual sources.

QUESTION 3.errors in writing literature review

Lack of Focus or Clear Objectives: One of the most common errors is not having a clear focus or well-
defined objectives for the literature review. Researchers may include irrelevant studies or fail to
highlight the specific research questions they aim to address.
Insufficient or Outdated Sources: A literature review should be based on a comprehensive and up-
to-date collection of relevant sources. Using too few sources or relying on outdated literature can
lead to incomplete or inaccurate conclusions.

Lack of Critical Analysis: A literature review should not merely summarize the findings of various
studies. Instead, it should critically evaluate the existing research, identifying gaps, inconsistencies,
and strengths or weaknesses in the studies reviewed.

Failure to Synthesize Findings: Another common error is presenting a literature review as a series of
disconnected summaries of individual studies. The review should synthesize and integrate the
findings from various sources to create a coherent narrative.

Plagiarism and Lack of Referencing: Plagiarism, either intentional or unintentional, is a severe issue
in literature reviews. Researchers should properly attribute ideas and findings to their original
sources and use correct referencing formats.

Neglecting Emerging Research and Grey Literature: Sometimes, researchers focus solely on
published journal articles, overlooking valuable insights from emerging research or grey literature,
such as conference papers, reports, or technical documents.

QUESTION 4.qualities of a succesful project

Clear Objectives: A successful project has well-defined and achievable objectives. The project team
understands what needs to be accomplished, and these objectives are aligned with the overall goals
and vision of the organization.

Effective Planning: Successful projects involve thorough planning and strategizing. This includes
defining tasks, setting timelines, allocating resources, and identifying potential risks. A well-thought-
out plan provides a roadmap for the project's execution.

Strong Teamwork and Communication: Collaboration and effective communication are essential for
a successful project. The project team should work together cohesively, share information openly,
and address challenges promptly to ensure smooth progress.

Quality Deliverables: A successful project produces high-quality deliverables that meet or exceed
the stakeholders' expectations. The outcomes should fulfill the project's objectives and add value to
the organization or intended beneficiaries.

QUESTION 5.sampling

Sampling is a statistical technique used in research to select a subset of individuals or items from a
larger population. This smaller subset, known as the sample, is representative of the entire
population, allowing researchers to draw inferences and make generalizations about the population
without studying every single member. Sampling is essential in research as it can save time,
resources, and costs while still providing valuable insights and accurate estimates.

Types of Sampling Techniques: There are various sampling techniques, including:

Simple Random Sampling: Each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected,
and the selection is entirely random.
Stratified Sampling: The population is divided into subgroups (strata), and a random sample is taken
from each stratum, ensuring representation from different groups within the population.

Systematic Sampling: Researchers select every nth individual from a list or sequence, often based on
some predetermined pattern.

Cluster Sampling: The population is divided into clusters, and a random sample of clusters is
selected. All individuals within the chosen clusters become part of the sample

QUESTION 6.differences.random/probability

. Random Sampling:

In Random Sampling, each member of the population has an equal and independent chance of
being selected for the sample.

The selection process is entirely random, meaning that every individual or item in the population has
an equal probability of being chosen.

Random Sampling does not consider any specific characteristics or strata of the population during
selection; it is purely based on chance.

This method is commonly used when the population is relatively small and homogeneous, or when it
is difficult to access a list of all population members.

An example of random sampling is selecting 50 names from a hat containing all the names of
students in a school.

2. Probability Sampling:

Probability Sampling is a broader category that includes several sampling techniques where each
member of the population has a known, nonzero probability of being selected.

Unlike Random Sampling, Probability Sampling considers the characteristics and strata of the
population during the selection process.

Some common probability sampling methods include:

Stratified Sampling: Dividing the population into subgroups (strata) and then selecting samples from
each stratum. This ensures representation from different groups within the population.

Systematic Sampling: Selecting every nth individual from a list or sequence, following a
predetermined pattern.

Cluster Sampling: Dividing the population into clusters and randomly selecting clusters for the
sample. All individuals within the chosen clusters become part of the sample.

Multistage Sampling: A combination of different probability sampling techniques in multiple stages,

which can be useful for large and diverse populations.

Probability Sampling provides more control over the sample composition and can produce more
accurate estimates and inferences about the population.

Researchers often use Probability Sampling when they need to ensure the sample's
representativeness and when the population is large and heterogeneous.
Non random /non probability

Non-random Sampling (Non-probability Sampling):

Non-random sampling involves selecting a sample from the population in a non-random or non-
systematic manner.

The selection process does not give every member of the population an equal and known chance of
being included in the sample.

Non-random sampling methods often rely on the researcher's judgment, convenience, or

accessibility to select participants or items for the sample.

Non-random sampling may introduce bias, as certain members of the population may be
overrepresented or underrepresented in the sample.

This type of sampling is commonly used in exploratory research, case studies, or when it is difficult
or impractical to use probability sampling methods.

Examples of non-random sampling include convenience sampling (selecting participants who are
readily available), purposive sampling (handpicking specific individuals who meet certain criteria),
and snowball sampling (relying on participants to refer others to the study).

The mixed sampling

Mixed sampling designs, also known as mixed methods sampling, refer to research designs that
combine elements of both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. These designs are
used in mixed methods research, which involves collecting and analyzing both quantitative and
qualitative data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the research topic. Mixed sampling
designs allow researchers to leverage the strengths of both probability and non-probability sampling
methods to enhance the validity and depth of their findings. Here are two common types of mixed
sampling designs:

1. Sequential Sampling Design:

In this design, researchers first use a probability sampling method to select a representative sample
from the larger population for the quantitative phase of the study.

The quantitative phase typically involves collecting numerical data through surveys or experiments.

After analyzing the quantitative data, researchers may purposefully select specific individuals or
groups based on certain characteristics (non-probability sampling) to participate in the qualitative
phase of the study.
The qualitative phase often includes in-depth interviews, focus groups, or observations to gain
deeper insights and explanations for the quantitative findings.

Sequential sampling designs allow researchers to triangulate quantitative and qualitative data,
providing a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.

2. Concurrent Sampling Design:

In this design, researchers simultaneously collect both quantitative and qualitative data from
different samples within the same study.

The quantitative data are obtained using probability sampling techniques, ensuring the
representativeness of the numerical data.

The qualitative data are collected from a separate sample using non-probability sampling methods,
such as purposive or convenience sampling.

The concurrent sampling design allows researchers to explore the research question from different
angles and verify or complement quantitative results with rich qualitative insights.