Birzeit University

Economic Department
Eco 235 ---- Research Methods

MidtermExam
2nd semester 2017/2018 Coordinator: Sana’ Atari section 2, 3

Student Name: ___________ Dr. Mohanad Abu Rjilieh: section 4, 5

Student Number: ________ Najibeh Murrar section 6, 7, 8

Mohamed Amreyeh section 1, 9

INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE READ BEFORE BEGINNING THE EXAM.

The exam consists of 6 pages. Please make sure that you have all of the pages.
There are 3 questions, question one is multiple choice question, question two is true false
question, and question three is essay question. You have to solve all of them which worth a total
of 100 points. The point values associated with each question are the same.
Please write neatly. If I can’t read it, it’s wrong!
Partial credit is available, so you should attempt to answer all of the questions, even if you think
that you do not know the answer.
You have one hour to complete the exam. Good luck!

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Question # 1
1. When the research hypothesis is derived from an existing theory, the scientific research process is called
the:
(a) Inductive method
(b) Scientific research method
(c) Deductive method
(d) Qualitative method

2. The directional hypotheses for the following research question: "Is there a relationship between the time
a parent spends playing with a child and the child's self-esteem?" is:
(a) There is a relationship between the time a parent spends playing with a child and the child's self-esteem
(b) There is no a relationship between the time a parent spends playing with a child and the child's self-esteem
(c) There is a positive relationship between the time a parent spends playing with a child and the child's
self-esteem
(d) One cannot write a directional hypothesis for the above research question.

3. Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between a hypothesis and a theory?
(a) A theoretical prediction can be stated as a specific hypothesis
(b) When a hypothesis has been proven correct, it becomes a theory
(c) Weak theories are hypotheses and strong theories are scientific law
None of the above

4. Scientific investigation is characterized by a good theoretical base and a sound methodological design.
These characteristics are both related to the of the investigation.
What must be filled on the line?
*a. Rigor.
b. Precision and confidence.
c. Objectivity.
d. Parsimony.

5. Parsimony related to scientific investigation refers to:

a. The probability that our estimations are correct.
*b. The idea that a simple model that explains a certain phenomenon is preferred to a complex model.
c. The fact that findings are generalizable.
d. The fact that an investigation has a clear theoretical base.

6. A manager finds that off-the-job classroom training has a great impact on the productivity of the
employees in her department. However, she also observes that employees over 60 years of age do not
seem to derive much benefit and do not improve with such training.The moderating variable in this
situation is:
(a) productivity
(b) off-the-job classroom training
(c) age
(d) employee

Question no. 2

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 True or False: Select T for true and F for false (10 points)

No. Statement (T) or (F)

1. Research done with the intention of applying the results of the findings to solve specific (T) (F)
problems currently being experienced in an organization is called basic research.
2. No directional hypothesis cannot be testable (T) (F)
3. The term "hypothesis," as used in research, usually refers to a prediction of results (T) (F)
usually made before a study commences.
4. A directional hypothesis is a prediction about the specific nature of a relationship--for (T) (F)
example, method A is more effective than method B.
5. The best sample is one that is representative of the population (T) (F)
6. Hypothesizing is the next logical step after theory formulation (T) (F)
7. Theoretical framework done by taking informally to several people in the work setting (T) (F)

Question no.3

: according to the following article complete the table below.

Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies Vol. 6 No. 1, 2016 pp. 13-32 © Emerald Group
Publishing Limited.

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.

a). Fill in the empty boxes with information addressing each step in the scientific research related
to the article above.

Steps of scientific research

1.Purpose of the study 1. To identify the determinants of the audit delay

among Palestinian companies listed on Palestine Stock
Exchange (PSE).
2. To investigate if the audit delay is influenced by board
size.
3. To investigate if the audit delay is influenced by
corporate size.

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2.Question of the study 1. What are the determinants of the audit delay among
Palestinian companies listed on Palestine Stock
Exchange (PSE)?

3. Does the corporate size affect the audit delay?

2. Does the board size affect the audit delay?

3. theory
The agency theory

4. Hypothesis 1. There is a relationship between corporate size and

ARL (Audit Report Lag) .

2. There is a relationship between the board size and

ARL (Audit Report Lag) .

5.Variables and
measurements (dependent variable:ARL), and independent variables:
Corporate size, Audit firm status, Audit complexity,
Board size, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) duality,
Audit committee, Ownership disp ersion, Ownership
concentration .
Measurement :
Corporate size: total assets (TA).
Board size: number of Board members.
6.Data collection method Method: Secondary data.
and source Source: Data collected from the year 2011 annual
reports for all the 46 listed companies on PSE

7.Data analysis
Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify
the influence of a set of company characteristics,
ownership structure variables, and corporate
governance mechanisms .

8. Use of
Results(interpretation and The result of the analysis demonstrated that the audit
policies build upon) reporting delay is influenced by the board size,
corporate size, status of audit firm, company

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 complexity, existence of audit committee, and
ownership dispersion. (with knowing the determinants
of the d elay then the managers can improve any future
disclosure ).

b) Assume you make a seminar related to this topic, write a paragraph not more than three lines
to put the above study in your literature review.

Hassan (2016) employ agency theory to identify the determinants of the audit delay, the
study implements on Palestinian companies listed on Palestine Stock Exchange (PSE).the
researcher uses data collected from the year 2011 annual reports for all the 46 listed
companies on PSE, the data collected is about the corporate size, Audit firm status, Audit
complexity, Board size, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) duality, Audit committee,
Ownership dispersion, Ownership concentration. Multiple regression analysis is performed
to identify the influence of a set of company characteristics. The result of the analysis
demonstrated that the audit reporting delay is influenced by the board size, corporate size,
status of audit firm, company complexity, existence of audit committee, and o wnership
dispersion.

c) Site this article as a reference in your seminar.

Hasan, Y. (2018) .Determinants of audit report lag: evidence from

Palestine. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Vol. 6 Issue: 1,
pp.13-32.

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Good Luck