LME3701 January/February Supplementary
Exam Memo | Due January/February 2026 |
Legal Research Methodology (UNISA)
,Question 1:
What is the primary purpose of legal research?
• A) To gather information on a legal issue
• B) To present a personal opinion
• C) To influence legislative changes
• D) To create new laws
Correct Option: A) To gather information on a legal issue
Rationale: The primary purpose of legal research is to gather relevant information
regarding legal issues to support legal reasoning and decision-making.
Question 2:
Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?
• A) Statutes
• B) Case law
• C) Legal textbooks
• D) Constitutions
Correct Option: C) Legal textbooks
Rationale: Legal textbooks are secondary sources of law that summarize, interpret, or
critique primary sources, such as statutes and case law.
Question 3:
What is the function of a citation in legal research?
• A) To provide a summary of research
• B) To identify the source of information
• C) To support personal opinions
• D) To outline a researcher's credentials
Correct Option: B) To identify the source of information
Rationale: A citation serves to identify the original source of legal information, ensuring
that users can locate the source material if needed.
, Question 4:
When would you use a secondary source in legal research?
• A) When seeking original text of a law
• B) When needing legal commentary or analysis
• C) When verifying legal citations
• D) When drafting legal documents
Correct Option: B) When needing legal commentary or analysis
Rationale: Secondary sources provide commentary, analysis, and interpretations that
can enhance understanding of legal topics and guidance on legal issues.
Question 5:
What type of legal research method focuses on case studies?
• A) Empirical research
• B) Doctrinal research
• C) Comparative research
• D) Qualitative research
Correct Option: A) Empirical research
Rationale: Empirical research often involves case studies to gather data and analyze
real-world legal issues and their outcomes.
Question 6:
Which legal research method is primarily concerned with legal rules and principles?
• A) Empirical research
• B) Doctrinal research
• C) Historical research
• D) Comparative research
Correct Option: B) Doctrinal research
Rationale: Doctrinal research focuses on examining legal texts to understand and
clarify legal rules and principles.
Question 7:
Exam Memo | Due January/February 2026 |
Legal Research Methodology (UNISA)
,Question 1:
What is the primary purpose of legal research?
• A) To gather information on a legal issue
• B) To present a personal opinion
• C) To influence legislative changes
• D) To create new laws
Correct Option: A) To gather information on a legal issue
Rationale: The primary purpose of legal research is to gather relevant information
regarding legal issues to support legal reasoning and decision-making.
Question 2:
Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law?
• A) Statutes
• B) Case law
• C) Legal textbooks
• D) Constitutions
Correct Option: C) Legal textbooks
Rationale: Legal textbooks are secondary sources of law that summarize, interpret, or
critique primary sources, such as statutes and case law.
Question 3:
What is the function of a citation in legal research?
• A) To provide a summary of research
• B) To identify the source of information
• C) To support personal opinions
• D) To outline a researcher's credentials
Correct Option: B) To identify the source of information
Rationale: A citation serves to identify the original source of legal information, ensuring
that users can locate the source material if needed.
, Question 4:
When would you use a secondary source in legal research?
• A) When seeking original text of a law
• B) When needing legal commentary or analysis
• C) When verifying legal citations
• D) When drafting legal documents
Correct Option: B) When needing legal commentary or analysis
Rationale: Secondary sources provide commentary, analysis, and interpretations that
can enhance understanding of legal topics and guidance on legal issues.
Question 5:
What type of legal research method focuses on case studies?
• A) Empirical research
• B) Doctrinal research
• C) Comparative research
• D) Qualitative research
Correct Option: A) Empirical research
Rationale: Empirical research often involves case studies to gather data and analyze
real-world legal issues and their outcomes.
Question 6:
Which legal research method is primarily concerned with legal rules and principles?
• A) Empirical research
• B) Doctrinal research
• C) Historical research
• D) Comparative research
Correct Option: B) Doctrinal research
Rationale: Doctrinal research focuses on examining legal texts to understand and
clarify legal rules and principles.
Question 7:
