Research consultancy
CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter highlights the procedures that the researcher followed in the whole research process. It discusses the research design, the study population, data collection methods and instruments, data processing, analysis and presentation.
3.2 Research design
It’s a process of making decisions before the situation arises in which the decision has to be carried out, that is to say a strategic plan of conducting research.
In order to collect data as much as possible, descriptive and analytical research design were used. These were used because descriptive design helps to ascertain and describe the characteristics of the variables. Analytical research design was used to analyze the information. Since this study involved the collection of views, perspective or opinions of respondents regarding a particular issue.
3.3 Study Population
The population refers to the group with characteristics which the researcher wants to study within the context of a particular research problem.
Kyambogo University is comprised of lecturers, secretaries, undergraduates and employees of other professions. In other words, this implied a set of all possible causes of interest in this research activity. Thus, the population of the study was forty (40) respondents of Kyambogo University.
3.4 Sample Size
This refers to part of population which is studied in order to make inferences about the whole population. The major participants in the informal sector that is to say the tertiary institutions were too wide, so there was need to choose a few manageable respondents to participate in the study. Thus, the sample size was forty (40) respondents from Kyambogo University.
3.5 Sampling Design and Procedure
The researcher used simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Simple random sampling approach was used during the study because of its advantages, like minimization of bias results. This implies that all participants in the study population had equal chances of being selected. Purposive sampling was also used to select only those respondents with importance attached to their office. This means that data was obtained from the key informants about the subject matter. A combination of these two techniques gave a wide range of response.
3.6 Data Sources
Data was obtained from both secondary and primary data sources.
3.6.1 Secondary data collection
Roston (2001) defines secondary data as that kind of data that is available, already reported by some other scholars. Secondary data included policy documents and abstracts of the various scholars relating to the topic of discussion in question. Secondary data for this study was gotten from sources like libraries, archived records from the institution, and government publications, online information, text books, and unpublished research reports. This is because it was readily available and easier to comprehend, as comprised of extensively researched work.
3.6.2 Primary data collection
According to Roston (2001), primary data is that kind of data that has been gathered for the first time, it has never been reported anywhere. Short comings of secondary data sources such as out datedness and inadequacy in terms of coverage, necessitated the use of primary source for first data. Self-administered questionnaires were used and this enabled the researcher to cover a large population quickly and at a reasonable cost.
3.7 Data Collection Instruments and Methods
3.7.1 Questionnaire
A questionnaire is a reformulated written set of questions to which respondents record their answers, usually within rather closely defined alternatives. The questionnaire was equally used
because the information was collected from a large sample in a short period because some of the respondents could not read and write which necessitated interviews. The questionnaire was used in collection of data from respondents (members of the institute). The questionnaires consisted of both open and close-ended questions that were administered to respondents of Kyambogo University.
Advantage: Large amounts of information can be collected from a number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way.
3.7.2 Interview method
The researcher also administered interviews. An interview is a dialogue between an interviewer and interviewee. It is an organized conversation aimed at gathering data about a particular topic. This is a method where a researcher interviews respondents to obtain information on the issue of interest. In this case, the interviews during this research were structured and specifically administered to staff and students of Kyambogo University.
Advantage: It encourages free and open responses.
3.7.3 Observation method
The researcher observed the modern technological equipments used by the institution and their use by secretaries in terms of duty execution and service rendering to various clients. However, the observation method revealed whether the respondents find hard time in using the modern technological equipments while at work. It also spelt out the equipment present, missing equipments, new equipments and those for disposal.
Data Processing and Analysis
3.8.1 Data processing
The data collected from the field was subjected to processing for easy interpretation and understanding. Data collected was checked for completeness, categorized, coded, and entered into a computer where it was summarized into frequency tables edited and tabulation by use of percentages. Quantitative data was presented in form of descriptive statistics using frequency tables. Qualitative data was sorted and grouped into themes. The researcher thereafter evaluated and analyzed the adequacy of information in answering the research questions through coding of data, identifying categories and parameters that emerged in the responses to the variables of thestudy. Qualitative data was presented using narrative text.
