Research proposal writer
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
This section presents the research methods that will be used to carry out the study. It covers the research design, Area of study, target population, sample design, sample size, research instrument, measurement of variables, Data Collection Procedure, data analysis and anticipated problems of the study
3.1 Research Design
A case study design shall be adopted for this research. They provide an in depth study of a particular situation. The study also shall use qualitative and quantitative methodologies for data analysis. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies shall be used in examining the effect of contract management on service delivery at Uganda National Bureau of Standards. Quantitative research consists of those studies in which the data concerned can be analysed in terms of numbers while qualitative describes events, persons and so forth scientifically without the use of numerical data. Quantitative research is based more directly on its original plans and its results are more readily analysed and interpreted. Qualitative research is more open and responsive to its subject. (Christina Hughes, 2006)
3.2 Area of the Study
The study shall be carried out at UNBS headquarters in Nakawa Industrial area on Plot M217 and its branches in different regions in Uganda.
3.3 Target population
Sekaran (2003) defines a population as the entire group of people, events or things that a researcher wishes to investigate. The entity comprises of239 employees, 1executive director, 12 management staff, 40 division heads, 5 regional heads, 181 staff members at UNBS whose duties influence Stakeholder Involvement, contract management and service delivery in UNBS.
3.4 Sample Size,Techniquesand Selection
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 148 employees was selected from the total population of 239 employees.
Table 1: Population, Sample size and Sampling technique
Source: UNBS Employee List, (2013)
3.5 Research Instrument
Questionnaires shall be used to obtain the necessary primary data to answer the research questions and achieving the research objectives. The questionnaire shall be designed in a manner that motivates respondents with simple structured questions with the option of providing any addition information to the structured questionnaire as an option to obtain relevant data from them. Secondary data shall be obtained through reading and reviewing existing records of related information to contract management such as contract management reports, published articles, journals and PPDA publications. Validity and reliability tests shall be carried out to ensure accuracy and usability of the instrument.
3.6 Measurement of Variables
A five point Likert ordinal scales ranging from; strongly agree which shall be assigned 5, strongly Agree, 4 agree, Not Sure assigned 3, Disagree allocated 2 and strongly disagree allotted 1 to obtain responses on the variables. The Likert ordinal scale has been used by numerous scholars who have conducted similar studies such as Bowling, (1997).
The structured questions will be measured using the following variables;
- i) Stakeholder involvement; reliability of stakeholders, ability to measure service levels,
Ability to monitor changing requirements
- ii) Contract management; monitoring, evaluation, administration
iii) Service delivery; level of quality, price, time
3.7 Validity and Reliability
The data a collection tools shall be pre-tested on a smaller number of respondents from each category of the population to ensure that the questions are accurate clear and in line with each objective of the study.
It is the degree to which results obtained from the analysis of the data actually represents the phenomenon understudy, (Mugenda&Mugenda, 2003). To ensure validity of instrument close guidance of the supervisor were adopted. This helped to identify ambiguous questions in the interval and be able to re-align them to the objectives.
3.7.2 Reliability
Reliability tests and analysis shall be carried out.
3.8 Data Collection Procedure
The researcher shall obtain an introductory letter from Kyambogo University to enable easy access to information by the researcher from UNBS.The procedure of data collection shall be based on the research objectives and questions. A review of related literature shall also be done. A questionnaire shall be pre-tested and review of the questions may be done if necessary to ensure reliability and suitability.
3.9 Data Sources
Source of data will be from both primary and secondary sources.
3.9.1 Primary Data
Primary data shall be obtained from well-designed questionnaires structured to obtain relevant data and to gain opinions and practices on impacts of contract management on service delivery, at UNBS
3.9.2 Secondary Data
Secondary data is data which has been collected by individuals or agencies for purposes other than those of a particular research study. It is data developed for some purpose other than for helping to solve the research problem at hand (Bell, 1997).Secondary data shall be obtained from Procurement and Disposal Unit (PDU) reports, published articles, journals and PPDA publications relating to contract management and service delivery.
3.10 Data Process and Analysis
Data analysis shall involve the use of both quantitative and qualitative techniques.
Data processing shall be done by entering the data into a statistics package for social sciences (SPSS) in line with the research questions. Data analysis shall be done by also using this statistics package for social sciences (SPSS) to formulate frequency tables where the mean, variance and standard deviation will be obtained.
The researcher anticipates lack of adequate resources for some of the research activities. In addition, the information required in the study is likely to be hard to be extracted from the respondents as it may be viewed as confidential.
