INFLUENCE OF OIL AND GAS DISCOVERY ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN ALBERTINE REGION –BULIISA DISTRICT BUTIABA SUB COUNTY
CHAPTER ONE
- Introduction
This chapter presents background of the study, the problem statement, purpose, objectives of the study, research questions, study scope, and significance of the study.
1.1 Background
Oil exploration started way back in the early 347 AD in China with the first well drilled (Song, 2016). Since then the world has been in the business of oil exploration and production. In East Africa, oil exploration started in early 1930s by the British colonialists although they faced by many challenges until around 1990s when few first oil wells were discovered (Purcell, 2014).
Gumede (2008) argues that the West is selective in their pressure for African countries to democratize by ignoring countries that are rich in oil such as Chad and Equatorial Guinea. Indeed, Ross (2001a) has argued that oil and mineral production is linked to authoritarian rule. Likewise, Boonstra et al (2008), note that there is an intricate relationship between energy production and democracy such that international pressure for bad regimes in oil-rich nations to reform is increasingly weakened as Western countries seek to access the scarce resources in more competitive global markets. In Nigeria, Bloomfield (2008) opines that just as oil has polluted the environment of the Niger Delta, so has it polluted the politics of Nigeria. Likewise, Boonstra et al (2008) argue that the rise of oil revenues in Azerbaijan is associated with the decline in democratic gains.
Black gold is also noted for its ability to impact negatively on the ways in which politics plays out in these communities. The discovery and exploration of oil has the potential to and in most cases have negatively affected the political system of developing nations.
The discovery of oil in east Africa started in South Sudan, then Sudan, in 1987 brought many prospects of oil discoveries in East Africa. Since then, a number of oil companies such as Chevron, Africa Oil and Tullow oil have camped in the region acquiring licenses and conducting seismic oil and gas exploration tests in countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (Yabs, 2015).
Commercial oil deposits were first discovered in the Albertine Graben region in western Uganda in 2006, and since then the Government of Uganda has had plans for their exploitation, although the target date for first oil has been postponed several times. The extraction of oil means that there will be several large projects in the region, potentially including an oil refinery, the generation of electricity from gas, the export of crude oil to international markets by pipeline via Tanzania, and a new international airport. The Government expects that the development of the oil and gas industry will accelerate economic growth, job creation, contribute to poverty eradication, and improve the general prosperity of Uganda. However, each project requires large amounts of capital, technical expertise, and land. The demand for land has led and will continue to lead to the displacement of large numbers of people (Ogwang, Vanclay, & van den Assem, 2018).
The discovery of commercially viable oil deposits in the Albertine Graben region on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2006 has had and will continue to have major impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people living in local communities in the region (NAPE, 2016; Holterman, 2014). In 2013, Uganda’s oil reserves were estimated to be 3.5 billion barrels, and were expected to yield at least USD $2 billion per year for 30 years once oil production commences (Kuteesa, 2014).
Western Uganda has approximately 6.5 billion barrels of oil reserves, with at least 1.4 billion estimated to be economically recoverable. French firm Total, S.A., Chinese firm China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), and U.K. firm Tullow have production licenses to develop Uganda’s oil reserves for export. In addition to producing and exporting crude oil, Uganda plans to build a refinery to produce petroleum products for the domestic and EAC markets.
Statement of the problem
Although positive prospects of oil exploration activities are good for a country’s economy, it has its substantial share of negative effects. The positive impact could range from increased employment opportunities, increased trade volumes, stabilization of the exchange rates and rapid economic growth (Sharma and Arora, 2012). Similarly, a number of negative effects would also occur due to the exploration and exploitation of a natural resources. Oil exploration and subsequent exploitation is known to have created adverse effects on the environment globally while also destabilizing economies especially when cultural and social concerns are not properly addressed (Omorede, 2014).
It is against this background that this study intends to investigate into the influence of oil and gas discovery on the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in albertine region.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of oil and gas discovery on the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in albertine region , Bulisa district , Butiaba subcounty.
- To determine the influence of oil and gas investment on growth and development of SMEs
- To examine the relationship between oil and gas industries on Growth and development of SMEs
- To determine the different ways of improving the performance of SMEs.
1.5 Research Questions
- What is the influence of oil and gas investment on growth and development of SMEs?
- What is the relationship between oil and gas industries on Growth and development of SMEs?
- What are the different ways of improving the performance of SMEs?
1.6 Scope of the Research Study
Geographical scope
The research will be conducted in albertine region.
Time scope
The study will investigate a period of six years from 2015 to 2026
Content scope
The scope of the study will include; the different benefits of oil and gas discovery, the challenges of oil and gas discovery and the different ways of improving the performance of SMEs.
1.7 Significance of the study
- The study will provide to future researcher regarding the different benefits of oil and gas discovery in albertine region.
- The study will also enable the government have information regarding the challenges of oil and gas discovery in albertine regions.
- The study will also enable the academicians have information on the different ways of improving the performance of SMEs.
1.8 Conceptual frame work
Oil and gas discovery (IV) Growth and development of SMEs (DV)
Moderating variables
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
- introduction
This section indicates the; the different benefits of oil and gas discovery, the challenges of oil and gas discovery and the different ways of improving the performance.
2.1 Influence of oil and gas investment on growth and development SMEs
Natural resources discovery presents great opportunities for social and economic transformation. (Mawejje, 2019) explains that oil in the Albertine region offers opportunities for local socioeconomic development most especially if risks associated with the oil discovery are accounted for. The discovery of oil in Bunyoro increased hopes of quicker poverty reduction and a feeling of the restoration of the former glory of Bunyoro kingdom (Bategeka et al., 2009, 11).
Similar to expectations, oil development activities in Uganda have impacted Ugandans in both positive and negative ways. Positively through increased infrastructure development, increased employment opportunities and negatively through increased migration, high inflation, displacement and resettlement of people as a result of oil project development. Furthermore, there are constraints to earning a livelihood for example restrictions put on fishing along lake Albert and felling of trees for firewood to be used for cooking and herbs for medicinal purposes. There has been a decrease in food security and land compensations have been inadequate. There are increases in cases of prostitution and grabbing of land in the Albertine region. People are unhappy and inconvenienced by the impeding danger of environmental degradation. People are anxious about the rapid changes in community life. (Ogwang etal, 2018.) People in Albertine Graben have faced and continue to face adverse impacts of oil exploitation in their livelihood ever since the rediscovery of oil in 2006 (NAPE, 2016).
Regardless of who establishes the project government or private enterprise, large projects require huge chunks of land. This means dislocation ofpeople. (Varancy,2017.) Balikuddembe and Ardalan ( 2014 ) affirms that oil discovery in Uganda has been at the Centre of many controversies. Mismanagement and poor governance of Uganda’s oil resource may lead the country to join the group of countries struggling with the resource curse burden and possibly plunge the country into civil war.(Olanya,2015). The region suffers from social problems resulting from natural resource curse phenomenon. These are multifaceted and occur at different levels; between central government and the local council administrations or at local community at level.
Land grabbing; Land governance considers policies, processes and institutions by which land, property, and natural resources are managed. It involves putting into place the most efficient ways of administering land issues, and includes decisions on access, land rights, land use and planning, making investment decisions as well as legislation on land, land management, secure tenure and transfer of land rights. It is the processes and structures through which decisions are made about the use of and control over land, the manner in which the decisions are implemented and enforced, and the way that competing interests in land are managed (Deninger 2012).
The manner in which land legislation is implemented, including sensitization, providing for possible conflict resolution and quick response to conflict, influences land grabbing. Poor implementation of legislation or lack of legislation aggravates land grabbing. It can thus be argued that the role of the state is important in matters of land grabbing if, poor legislation is put in place or if implementation is done poorly.
Good leadership should be coupled with continuous innovations, good legislations on oil sector andstrong macroeconomic factors in the exploitation industry so us to avoid a situation where oil has been a curse instead of being a blessing to some countries in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Oil has been a curse to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chad and Sudan (Mosbacher, 2013.) The oil curse denotes a sociopolitical situation where exploitation of oil exacerbates misery and poverty among majority population instead of enhancing people’s livelihoods. This results from economic and political mismanagement. (Kiiza, Bategeka & Ssewanyana, 2011.) According to Mawejje (2019) since 2006 when commercially viable oil was discovered in the Albertine Region there have been several studies undertaken to determine whether oil will benefit the local com-munities in this region and Uganda at large. Many studies have been interested in how oil will lead to economic development however this particular study focuses on Community Development. Economic development is part of community development.
2.2 Relationship between oil and gas industries on Growth and development of SMEs
Violation of women rights doubled ever since the commencement of oil exploitation activities in the Albertine region. Men, usually workers in the oil industry are culpable of beating, bullying, verbally abusing, and sexually harassing women. In Kigyayo for instance women were beaten by sugarcane plantation farmers when they ( women) use paths near the plantation to go to collect food and water to look after their families. The same area recorded cases of rape and defilement. On the shores of lake Albert in the fishing villages of Kaiso-Tonya, Kyehoro, Sebagoro and Wansenko men share sexual partners. More so men and women conflict over ownership and control of land. This is occasioned by the fact that land ceeded to oil production attracts a compensation fee which men do not want to share with women. Sexual promiscuity increased in the region as women were left by men after they (men) received land compensations and left without notifying their wives leaving them behind extremely vulnerable. Unfortunately, some women resorted to sex trade as a way of looking after themselves which has increased AIDS contractions among women in the areas of Buliisa and Kigyagyo. Many sex workers crossed from Congo to the Lake albert area. Prostitution and its associated negative effects has led marriage break ups. (NAPE, 2016, 15-20.)7.2Oil Development Di
Land grabbing has a negative impact on all people, but for the vulnerable groups such as women and children who largely depend on land for livelihood, the situation is worse. Land is a source women’s livelihoods and survival; they grow food and it is a means through which they can provide for the family. These common lands have the most unsecure tenure often considered as wastelands by government and therefore are given out to outside investors (Behrman, Meinzen-Dick, and Quisumbing 2011). Giving a way these lands or limiting access to these lands undermines women’s source of livelihoods and their welfare. Women depend these lands for collecting firewood, water, fodder, and medicinal plants necessary for a healthy living for them and their families.
Women are excluded from owning economic resources due to oil; Apart from common lands, women derive livelihoods from family land, which although having no rights of control and disposal (Jacobs 2009), they have access rights and can produce food and get vegetables. In African tradition, a woman is one who should provide food for the family. Having rights over land increases women’s economic strength and ability to bargain, both at the household and outside the household. In addition, women can access services such as financial, maternal and family planning and maternal health care services. Jacobs (2009) provides three basic reasons why land rights are important for women: equity, welfare and efficiency. Taking away rights to land from women denies them being efficient in decision making and the right to welfare.
Welfare of many women was affected by the oil most especially after the compensation was received. In the first instance there was family unity with strong relationships between men and women before compensations were paid out. Men and women used to work together even on the farm. But as the compensation was paid out, men left their wives and no longer get involved in farming and digging activities.
Poor sharing of resources; The implications of not giving a specific share of oil proceeds to the kingdom of Bunyoro, is that a conflict between the kingdom and the government of Uganda can cause paralysis in the mining and exploitation of oil. Through the world there are a number of examples; Sudan, and now southern Sudan and Nigeria where control of oil resource has resulted in civil war and or armed conflicts leading to halting of mining the resource. Ross (2004) hypothesizes that discontent among local communities about extraction of oil leads to civil war. This hypothesis postulates that grievance among local communities over land appropriation, failure to provide jobs, social disruptions, and environmental hazards leads to civil war. It the previous discussion, I have already indicated that people of Bunyoro are discontented about their land, and in Muriisa, Mbabazi and Twinamastiko (2014) it is argued that there is limited contribution to creating job opportunities by of the oil extraction. While Ross (2004) found no evidence linking grievance and civil war, it is not unlikely that grievance may lead to political crisis. Uganda recently experienced a political crisis in the Kasese region where the King of Rwenzulu expressed discontent and wanted to secede from the republic of Uganda
Setting of Bunyoro society where women neither own nor inherit land and limited government effort to enforce laws which support equitable share of inheritance and family accumulated wealth. (NAPE, 2016, 9-10.)Some locals in the Albertine region believe that land is being sold off to migrants the Balalo herdsmen and Congolesenational.7.3 Impacts of oil on Food security food supply has been negatively affected by oil work and this is due to many reasons. Firstly, people abandoned settled agriculture in preference to work in the oil industry. There has also been an influx of people in the area coming to engage in the oil industry hence forth the food ecosystem is no longer enough to feed this increased population for example fish has significantly dwindled in the lake Albert due to over and illegal fishing activities like catching immature fish to feed this increasing number of people. To make matters worse government is preoccupied with developing the oil sector leaving enforcing of fishing laws and ensuring people grow enough food crop unattended to. This has resulted into a general deficit in food supply in the area. Oil exploitation and extraction came with grabbing of former agricultural land fields. People who came in the guise of nomadic pastoralists ended up settling on community land, grabbed it and take took it forever. This was hitherto farmland. The gazetted 29 square kilometre land mass left for the construction of the oil refinery in Kabaale-Buseruka sub-county ate away part of arable land and consequently led to a reduction in food production in that area. This single one area was cultivation land for 7200 inhabitants. (NAPE, 2016, 4-6.) 7.4Effects of oil Development on Biodiversity and Environment The discovery, development and production of oil postulateslong-term environmental hazards to Uganda through degradation of land and noncompliance to appropriate waste management and disposal procedures for instance by May 2012 Heritage Oil had dumped untreated waste to the tune of 300 US dollars in people’s farmland (Mawejje and Bategeka, 2013, 41). There is growing anxiety as a result of the large-scale work started by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC ) in Kingfisher oil field since 2015 . The field estimated to have a total number of 635 million barrels of crude oil with a 196 million barrels of recoverable oil will put in place a water sanitation central processing facility, a oil tanks asembling plant and will also comprise of power generation and truck loading facilities. However, there is a report that oil from kingfisher oil field will go through a 85km pipeline crossing the biodiversity area of Kabwoya and Bugungu wild-life reserve at the base of the rift valley to the greenfield refinery at Kabaale-Buseeruka subcounty in Hoima district. This will cause stress to the flora and fauna especially the wild life. Communities fear for their lives in case of accidents wherehot crude oil pipeline burst which can cause oil spills to L. Albert causing catastrophe to people, wildlife and aquatic life. (NAPE, 2016, 4-6.).
2.3 Different ways of improving performance of SMEs
Researchers from the small and medium enterprises (SME hereafter) field, like Storey (1994), argue that the difference between small and large firms is not only a matter of size, consequently specific models are required to study SME. There are several characteristics that differentiate small from large firms. First of all, management and ownership unification leads to an owner-firm intertwinement (Ang, 1992), both at economical and emotional levels. Second, the form of private equity affects the diversification possibilities and risk position of the owners. Only a firm with a single owner-manager is free of agency costs of equity. In family firms, the inclusion of new generations is another source of agency problems. On the other hand, information asymmetry problems between small firms and external funds providers are especially strong, because of the informality and scarce information available. Last, these firms have shorter life expectancy, given that the firm may cease to exist if just one person (the owner) leaves, and the lack of firm succession planning.
Standardized transportation process, including improved quality control, shorter delivery time, and greater efficiency through the use of various ERP systems like the internet enabled tracking and tracing of the goods in transit, during shipment as well as giving up to date information to the buyers about the goods. This according to (Kotler 2000) enables the trading parties to minimize inefficiencies such as pilferage, theft among others during the logistics of the goods hence improving logistics efficiency and effectiveness.
This is where a company expands its activities and not only occupies a large position of the physical existing markets but also the biggest part of the consumers’ minds with what is being offered by that company. Increasing market share may take the form of increasing sales by being able to sell at lower prices than the competitors, increasing the range of products and product lines, increasing distribution channels and sales outlets, boosting various marketing drives such as vigorous advertising in all media available to essentially p lace an organization’s products in the minds of the consumers among other significant activities (Balunywa, 1998).
Sales volume increase; Sales volume refers to the amount or number of units that are sold of a particular product or service. Profits depend on growing sales and managing costs, which include variable and fixed costs. Variable costs depend on sales volumes because they involve direct raw materials and labor costs. Small and large businesses incur fixed costs, even if they have no sales. Fixed costs are constant at certain levels of production and sales. Outside of these levels, fixed costs may vary with sales volumes. Sales are the lifeblood of any successful business. An increase in sales, all other things equal, usually translates into higher profitability (Byaruhanga, 2012). Sales volume refers to the number or quantity of products sold and can be expressed in either shillings or percentage terms.
Increased profitability; A financially stable enterprise applies optimal use of both debt and owner’s equity and a company which is no longer struggling with financial problems as most companies do is seen to be setting off from its starting feet to greater business horizons thus looked at as a growing company. Such a company will never lack funding since financial Institutions will start looking at it as a potential client and they are ready to lend it money as need may be. Such growth should be reflected in profitable enterprises, and conversion into medium or large enterprises. In addition, SMEs growth can be measured in terms of profits. Profit making organizations look at the rate of return on the resources of the firm (Pandey, 1996)
If the level of profits of the firm is high, then the company can retain some of the profits for reinvestment (Yaron, Benjamin and Piprek, 1996). These are referred to as retained earnings which are undistributed portions of the company that are regarded as a source of owned capital. These profits are converted into reserves and used for the financing requirements of the company. This process of re-investing a portion of the profits of the company is called pouching back of profits or internal financing (Kakuru, 2001). Sandee (1999), Rural people do not make enough profits that can be ploughed back for re/investment thus creating a barrier in financing their business.
Simplified logistics and supply chain process. The introduction of ERP systems has not only simplified the logistics process but has also improved on the whole supply chain process including control over suppliers, improved process cycle time, close cooperation relationships, improved supply chain efficiency, raw materials on time for suppliers. According to (Kenneth Lysons 2000), simplified logistics and supply chain process has brought about shorter lead times and has enabled the materials to be available as and when they are required by the buyers for production purposes.
Process Automation With the use of ERP components such as bar coding, Satellite, internets and Image processing among others in the process of managing logistics efficiency, there has been reduction on paper work thereby leading to a substantial reduction of errors, as well as increased capability to obtaining and exchanging real time information. This is possible through the use of information technology systems such as Bar code and scanners which represents a series of alphanumerical characters, bar code readers to interpret bar code symbology, and bar code printers to reliably and accurately print bar codes on labels, cartons, and/or picking /shipping documents. This review is included here because bar code systems are the foundation for many paperless warehousing systems, but the review is meant only as a brief introduction to bar code system. In logistics, bar coding is useful in receiving inbound materials. This helps in quick and accurate data entry, faster checking and clearing of shipments, automatic tracking of the shipments throughout the logistics. (Trent and Monczka 2000)
Improved warehousing facilities. Warehousing is the primary link between the producers and the consumers; it is used for storing products (raw materials, in process inventory and finished goods) before they are finally worked upon or delivered to the ultimate consumers. Through the implementation of internet, ware house efficiency and effectiveness has improved greatly through using opportunities such as e- warehousing, e- receipts and e- issuing. These have brought about accurate operations in the warehouse hence complementing logistics management efficiency (R.J Carter, 1990)
Reduce product delivery time. Through the implementation of ERP in organizations Company the organizations’ processes of making payments to their suppliers have improved greatly including faster payment systems like using ATMS, credit cards among others. This reduces among others interest rate, credit risk among others (Aberdeen group 2005).
Improved distribution process. According to Donald W Dobler and David Burt (2001)With improved tracking and tracing as a result of using ERP systems like the internet, satellites among others, the company that is to say the distributing company is assured of efficiency and effectiveness in the distribution process as their trucks are properly tracked and traced so that in case the deliveries are made to a different location, the mistake can easily be rectified.
Proper monitoring. The introduction of ERP in international trade has brought about efficient and effective monitoring of the materials during transit to their various destinations. This is done through use of technologies that allows communication across a very wide geographical area.
Faster information transfer. ERP enables a speedy transfer of information between the supplier and the buyer. Therefore, all the necessary information that the supplier needs to give to the buyer regarding how the goods in transit should be handled, stored and packed are given to the buyer prior to delivery so that special attention is taken by the buyer where necessary( Van Horne 1994)
Reduce inventory levels. According to ( (ThomsonSingh2001; thompson, 2014)) ERP helps the buying organisation to order the needed items at the right time and once the need arises then an order will be placed. This helps the organisation to do away with bulk stock levels hence solving the problem of inventory costs like obsolescence and dampness leading to losses this leads to efficiency and effectiveness in the logistics operations.
Globalization, According to (oketcho, 2010), ERP has not only brought the world closer together, but it will allow the world’s economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we will not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we will also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. The world will developed into a global village due to the help of information and communication technology, allowing countries like Chile and Japan who are not only separated by distance but also by language to share ideas and information with each other.
Communication, Chaffey (2007) asserts that with the help of ERP, communication becomes cheaper, quicker, and more efficient. We can now communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them, or sending them an email, for an almost instantaneous response. The internet has also opened up face-to-face direct communication from different parts of the world, thanks to the help of video-conferencing.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This chapter will include the research design, study population area, sample size, sampling techniques and procedure, data collection methods, data collection instruments, validity and reliability, data quality control, data analysis, data measurements, ethical considerations and limitations of the study and it will provide justifications of the methodology that will be used for the study. The research design and analytical path of any research project should have a specific methodological direction based on its research objectives and framework.
According to Johnson & Christensen (2019) research design is the conceptual blueprint within which research is conducted, while Fisher (2007) states that a research design is defined as a detailed outline of how an investigation takes place. The study will adopt a descriptive survey design which will provide descriptions of the variables to answer the research questions. This study will use two approaches; the qualitative and quantitative research design. Quantitative design also allows comparisons between respondents, giving the right perspective on the variables under study (Riffe, et al., 2019). quantitative design is based on measurement of quantity hence this will be used in calculating simple percentages and the number of respondents (Gray, 2019). The choice of this technique is also guided by the fact that the study aims at generating findings, which would facilitate a general understanding and interpretation of the problem. The quantitative data will be triangulated with Key Informant Interviews to provide explanatory information to the statistical data.
Martin, (2019) defines a study population as the group in which a researcher wants to pick a sample from in order to make generalizations. The study will specifically focus on the respondents in Buliisa district Butiaba Sub County.
This study will employ both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Probability sampling techniques will include simple and stratified random sampling which will be used to select key respondents of the study. This will ensure that there is representativeness. Besides, it will provide an equal chance to all of being selected. Non-probability sampling techniques will include purposive; namely key informants to ensure people with particular information about the subject under study are selected. Snow ball sampling will be used to reach respondents through referrals and enable the researcher interview respondents who can provide data on the topic under study.
3.4 Determination of the sample size
Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), argue that it is impossible to study the whole targeted population and therefore the researcher shall take a sample of the population. A sample is a subset of the population that comprises members selected from the population. Using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) table for sample size determination approach, a sample size of 30 respodents will be selected.
3.5.0 Data sources and collection instrument
Majorly, two types of data sources – primary and secondary will be used for this study
3.5.1 Data sources, Collection Procedure and Instruments
Two types of data namely primary and secondary data will be used to collect data using different methods. Primary data will be collected using questionnaires and direct interviews. The study will adopt a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain data on the topic under study. Qualitative data will be collected using interview guides and will be used to collect data on feelings, beliefs and attitudes regarding the subject under study. Quantitative methods will be used to generate quantifiable data, using a questionnaire, which will be the main instrument used because of its convenience and efficiency in data collection. The different tools and data sources will be used to make triangulation feasible (Amin 2005).
Secondary sources of data that will be reviewed include scholarly books, magazines, dissertations journals and articles. This source is useful in collecting data from already written literature for example e-books, journals, published articles and periodicals as part of literature review. Documentary resources will be classified in order to facilitate the data collection and textual analysis (Mubazi, 2008).
3.6 Data Collection Methods and Instruments
The study will adopt a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data will be collected using interview guides. The use of interview guides to enable data collection on feelings, beliefs and attitudes regarding the subject under study. While quantitative data will be collected using a questionnaire.
Ahuja (2009) defines a questionnaire as a structured set of questions that are given to people in order to collect facts or opinions about something. The researcher will use closed-ended questions because they are easy and quick to answer, and they are helpful in improving consistence of the responses.
According to Ahuja (2009), an interview is a two-person conversation initiated by the interviewer for the specific purpose of obtaining research-related information. It focuses on the content specified by the research objectives, description and explanation. An interview guide, which is referred to as a set of questions for which answers, will be used by a researcher to interview respondents. The use of this tool gives the researcher control over the line of questioning hence time saving. Interviews will be conducted in a quiet place without noise with the key informants
Like parents.
The researcher will obtain a recommendation and an introductory letter from Victoria University, after which he will seek permission from the university.
3.9 Data Quality Control of the Instrument
3.9.1 Reliability of the questionnaire
According to Mugenda and Mugenda, (2003) reliability is the measure of the extent to which research instruments are able to provide the same results upon being tested repeatedly. Crobach’s coefficient alpha (a) as recommended by Amin, (2005, P.302) will be used to test the reliability of the research instrument. The instrument is deemed reliable if reliable of 0.7 and above is obtained and therefore, it will be adopted for use in the data collection.
Formula for reliability is
= ()
Where = alpha reliability co efficiency.
K=Number of items included in the questionnaire
= sum of variance of individual items
= variance of all items in the instrument.
To ensure credibility and trust worthiness of qualitative data the researcher will ensure that only the officials who are employees of Buliisa district Butiaba sub county will be interviewed.
The coefficient ranges between a=0.00 for no reliability, a =1.00 for perfect reliability. The closer alpha gets to 1.0 the better. If the study findings result to Cronbanch’s Alpha of 0.7 and above, this will signify that research instrument is good enough for the study. According to Amin (2005), all the measurements in the instrument that show adequate levels of internal consistency of cronbach’s alpha of 0.77 and above are accepted as reliable.
3.9.2 Validity of the questionnaire
Validity is defined as the extent to which results can be accurately interpreted and generalized to other populations (Oso & Onen, 2008). While Borg & Gall, 1989 as cited in Onyinkwa, (2013) validity is defined as the degree to which results obtained by the research instrument correctly represented to the phenomenon understudy and Mugenda & Mugenda, (2019) as the accuracy and meaningfulness of inferences which are based on the research results.
Amin, (2005) recommended minimum CVI of 0.7 to be used. Validity will be tested using content validity index which involves judges scoring the relevancy of the questions in the instruments in relation to the study variables.
The formula for Content Validity Index is;
CVI =
Where CVI = content validity
n= number of items indicated relevant.
N = total no. of items in the instrument
In this study, validity will be achieved by establishing content validity. The researcher will achieve content validity by using the experts to assess the validity of the research instrument. The experts especially research supervisors and consultants from Victoria University will be given data collection tools to assess whether the items in the instruments are valid in relation to research topic, objectives, and questions. From the instruments they will declare some items valid and others invalid. Those declared invalid will be dropped, others adjusted, while the valid ones will be maintained. Then content validity index (CVI) will be computed by dividing the number of items declared valid by total number of items/questions in the data collection instrument.
3.10 Data Collection Procedures
The researcher will obtain an introductory letter from Victoria University to seek permission and enable easy access of information by the researcher from Bulisa Butara subcounty, after the permission is granted from, the researcher will go ahead and administer questionnaires and interviews will be done for the selected respondents however the researcher will seek the consent of the respondents before being given questionnaire and the respondents will be informed that the study is strictly for academic purposes.
3.11 Data Processing and Analysis
This section covers methods of data processing and analysis.
In order to ascertain the accuracy, consistency, uniformity, proper arrangement and completion of the data, the researcher will use the computer for data entry, editing and data coding. The computer will be used because it increases the speed of computation and data processing and handles huge volumes of data, which is not possible manually. It facilitates copying, editing, saving and retrieving the data easier and validation, checking and correction of data.
Data collected will be checked, coded and edited for completeness and accuracy. Data will be analyzed using the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) version 21.0 for Windows. It will be analyzed using frequency distribution tables, excel spread sheets and Spearman correlation to determine the degree of relationship between variables. Qualitative data will also be used to analyze descriptive statistics using opinions and attitudes of respondents and developing themes.
Ethical considerations will be taken care of by, first seeking authorization from the Victoria University administration and other relevant authorities. Questionnaires will be structured in such a way that there is no mention of the interviewee’s name which ensures strict confidentiality in data.
Further, responses will be optional and respondents will not be given any inducements to participate in the study. Ethical considerations will be taken care of by the researcher by briefing the respondents on the purpose of the research, their relevance in the research process, and expectations from them as explained by Lloyd Bevan (2009).
Informed consent will be ascertained from informants/respondents. They will be promised confidentiality about the information they provide. The researcher will explain to the respondents the purpose of the study as purely academic and that the information obtained will be treated with utmost confidentiality. If anybody other than the University authority is to have access the information, the researcher will first seek the consent of the respondents.
- The respondents may fear to answer the questions asked as they feel that their security may be at stake.
- Respondents may not have enough time to answer the questions
- The respondent may expect to be given some money during the research process
