Research consultancy

CHAPTER THREE

INTRODUCTION

The chapter discusses the research design, the population under study, the sampling procedure, and data collection instruments, measures, procedure, quality control in which validity and reliability of the research instrument were addressed, data management and analysis.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study adapted a mixed approach employing both qualitative and the quantitative methods. In order to avoid the biases of one approach, the quantitative method was used in triangulation with the qualitative method for purposes of complementarity. Therefore, it adapted a descriptive research design because of the nature of the variables that were at hand; to produce data required for both quantitative (objectives 1 and 2) and qualitative (objective 3) analysis and to allow simultaneous description of views, perceptions and opinions at any single point in time (Slavin, 2011). Sequential triangulation using the results from questionnaire was used to inform the interview method. According to (Morse & Niehaus, 2009) sequential triangulation method uses results of one method to plan the next method. Therefore, data collected from the questionnaire was used to guide the qualitative approach (interview). Qualitative approach helped the researcher to explore the knowledge and views of the respondents about ECD support systems, community participation and sustainability of ECD centres in central region. Descriptive research enabled the researcher to obtain in-depth information on interests and opinions of the respondents concerning the study variables. This design yielded rich data that led to important recommendations in education sector while the quantitative enabled the researcher to establish and analyze the relationship between the variables, that is, ECD support Systems and Community Participation and Community participation and Sustainability of Community centres. The study was also cross sectional and correlational in nature.

RESEARCH POPULATION AND SAMPLE

The population of the study comprised of community ECD centre caregivers, head teachers, parents, community development officers and ECD Tutors. There are more than 260 registered faith based ECD centres country wide (MOES, 2004). The population comprised of both trained and untrained ECD teachers.

SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLE SELECTION

(Okuni, 2003) argue that it is impossible to study the whole targeted population and therefore the researcher took a sample of the population. A sample is a subset of the population that comprises members selected from the population. Using (Krecie & Morgan, 1970) table for sample size determination approach, a sample size of 226 respondents was selected from the total population of 550 respondents.

The samples consisted of 32 head teachers/caregivers, 32 caregivers, 35 ECD tutors, 32 lecturers, 1 district education officer (DIS) who happens to be the ECD Focal Point Person (FPP), 28 Community Development Officers (CDO), 34 Centre Management Committee (CMC) and 32 parents.  Purposive sampling was used to select the sample size. Purposive sampling is a technique widely used in qualitative research for the identification and selection of information-rich cases for the most effective use of limited resources (Patton, 2002). This involves identification and selection of individuals or groups of individuals that are especially knowledgeable about and experienced with a phenomenon of interest  (Creswell, 2003).

Questionnaire Return Rate

A total of 32 questionnaires were administered to the head teachers and thirty-two were returned. This was 100 percent response rate. All the caregivers returned their questionnaires. A total of 32 questionnaires were administered to ECD tutors, ECD lecturers (32) and district inspector of school (01), 28 questionnaires were given to Community Development Officers while the Centre Management Committee (CMC) members were given 34 questionnaires and they all filled and returned. Also 32 questionnaires were given to parents and were all returned. This reflected 100 percent return rate. These were a total of 226 (100 percent) questionnaire return rate which was deemed acceptable since it was over 50 percent return rate (Plano, 2011)

The positive response by the respondents during the study on the study on ECD support systems, community participation and sustainability of community centres can be attributed to the researcher’s good introduction that made respondents aware of his intention hence making them fully participate in the study. A total of 226 sample size was all met for the study. Table 3.1 below summarizes the sample size, percentage, instrument used respectively.

Table 3.1: Sample size for the respondents selected for the study.

Guided by Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970).

RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

As seen from Table 3.1 the researcher used mainly questionnaires and interviews to collect data from the respondents although at one point the researcher had to engage some respondents in a discussion to confirm what had been stated during the interviews. This helped to back up the information given early by other participants

Questionnaires

Questionnaires were used to get the opinions of respondents on community participation and sustainability of ECD centre. The questionnaires were for objective (1 and 2). Questionnaires were used to collect data from caregivers, ECD Tutors and lecturers because they are involved in the running of these centres. The tutors also train these caregivers in different ECD training institutions in the country. Both structured and semi-structured questions were included in the questionnaires. The questionnaires had four sections that is section A to D. Section A was used to collect information on the background of the respondents while sections B to D collected information to address the three objectives of the study. The questionnaire for ECD support systems was adopted from (Hoyland, 2005)

Interview guide

Interview guide was administered to the Head teachers, ECD lecturers, and CDOs and head teachers as the key informants. Semi-structured interview and interview guide consisting of open-ended questions were used. Interviews were used because they fetched a variety of ideas needed for the study and gave a deeper understanding of the topic.

PROCEDURE

Upon obtaining permission and letter of introduction from graduate school, the letter was presented to the respondents; the researcher first sampled the areas for the study. This helped in deciding where to begin from. The researcher proceeded to the selected programmes to seek for permission to carry out the study. Subsequently after permission was granted, the researcher made appointments with respective programmes on when to receive and return the instrument. The instruments were administered with the help of two research-assistants and participants as an ethical consideration, they were requested to willingly and freely participate in the study and they were assured of confidentiality.

DATA QUALITY CONTROL

Validity of Research Instruments

In establishing the validity of instruments, the researcher, in consultation with the supervisors, did a cross check of the questionnaire items for consistency, relevancy, clarity and ambiguity which were done before the questionnaire was administered to the respondents from ECD training institutions that did not take part in the study. Besides, the researcher ascertained the instrument validity by calculating the content validity index by dividing the total number of valid items over the total number of the items in the questionnaire, and the CVI obtained was 0.8.

Reliability of Research instruments

Reliability is the measure of the degree to which a research instrument yields consistent results or data after repeated results (Cronbach, 1990).

In this study, more than one instrument of collecting data was used to provide reliable results. Therefore, the reliability of the content in the questionnaire was piloted and assessed using the test-retest method. The instruments were piloted in ECD training institutions such as Kyambogo University, Young Men’s Christian Association (WMCA), St. Maria Goretti Girls ECD training institute, Kibuli Core Primary teachers’ college and Shimoni Core primary teachers’ college. The tools were then reviewed by colleagues and supervisors before being applied in the study to ensure reliability of results using Chronbach’s alpha method of internal consistency. On finding out the Chronbach value obtained was 0.83, and then the researcher took the reliability as reliable for use in data collection. The data gathered from the field was coded, classified and checked for accuracy, completeness, uniformity and consistence.  The Alpha coefficient values of the instruments were: questionnaires 0.833 and interviews 0.891. This gave an average value of 0.862 coefficients which means that the instruments were reliable for data collection.

DATA ANALYSIS

Since the study was both quantitative and qualitative in nature, the researcher sorted out information according to sections. Data was then analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis to compute the mean, frequency and percentage performance scores for all the variables.  The mean scores were then compared for significance using descriptive statistics.  For relationships between variables, the researcher used Pearson moment correlation co-efficient to test the relationship between the study variables for quantitative data (objectives 1 and 2) while content analysis was used for qualitative data (objective 3). The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

The researcher acquired a letter of consent from the Dean School of Education, Makerere University seeking consent to carry out research in the sampled areas of Mukono, Kampala and Wakiso. The interviews were carried out by briefing participants before the interviews commence and briefing after wards about the purpose and objective of the study.

During the informed consent, the participants were informed of the purpose of the research, the expected time of participation, the procedure to be followed and any benefits to the participants. The researcher did not at any point force any participant to participate in the study. Participation was voluntary. Confidentiality of the information shared was assured and participants were kept anonymous through the use of pseudo names. All the data gathered was used for research purposes only.

LIMITATIONS

Because of the short period of the time for the study, instruments used  and constrains of funds, the researcher opted for cross-sectional study and data collected from the stated areas at that time was not followed longitudinally therefore making it difficult to estimate changes over time. The researcher therefore recommends the future researchers to make a follow up of the changes that may take place as per the phenomena observed over time.

DELIMITATIONS

Because of the short time period to carry out research, the researcher informed the officials at in the different areas of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso in advance so that he is able to plan appropriately to avoid colliding with the programmes at the ECD centres. The researcher ensured that the budgets for his time were appropriate so that he is able to avoid disappointments. The researcher made sure he carries extra money to what was budgeted during the research writing process to avoid disappointments.