Land and Survey 4
Land and Survey 4
Land and Survey 4
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
According to Katebile (2007) Methodology is defined as the technical or scientific
activities, tools and procedures taken to plan gather and analyzed data. This chapter will
provided methods of research applied when collecting and analysing data research design and
sampling size, sampling procedures and design, methods of data collection, data analysis and
limitations or challenges of the study.
The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population comprised of the
public and private school Head teachers, teachers, pupils, and district education officers in
Chongwe who are mandated to set standards in the schools. Chongwe district by the time of
the study had 7secondary schools and 35 primary schools, making a total of 42 schools with
1200 teachers and 9 principal officers at the district education office. The sample size was
24% of the total schools, 8% of the total number of teachers and 45% of the district education
principal officers in Chongwe. The study used purposive sampling technique when choosing
the head teachers and District Education Officers and randomly sampling technique when
choosing schools, teachers, and pupils. Questionnaires, interview guide and observation were
used as research instruments to collect data. After gathering data, it was analysed using the
Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) so as to draw conclusions.
This chapter will present the method used in conducting the research. It includes:
The Research Design
Area of the Study
Population of Study
Sample Size and Techniques
Methods of Data Collection
Data source or Instrument for Data Collection
Validation of Instrument
Administration of the Instrument
Ethical considerations
Data Analysis Technique
Challenges faced during the study
3.1 Research Design
This study used a case study research design that uses a descriptive and analytical method.
The quantitative approach were used to quantify incidences in order to describe current
conditions and to assess record keeping and performance using information gained from the
questionnaires. The qualitative approach used to explain the events and describe findings uses
interview guide and documentary analysis. All this enabled the researcher to gain in-depth
information that was used to find solutions for the research questions of the study.
A study area is defined as geography for which data is analyzed in a report. (Business decision
2007). The study was conducted in Chongwe District of Lusaka comprising of two public and
two private schools that make up 24% of the entire population of Chongwe District schools.
Cooper and Schindler (2003) describe a population as ‘the total collection of elements
whereby references have to be made’. The population of this study is made up of Ninety Six (96)
drawn from Principal Officers and Teachers (including head teachers) of the respective school of
study.
The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from the field
using questionnaires, interviews While secondary data was collected from available published
records such as textbooks, existing journals, reference, magazines, manuals and internet.
3.6.1 Interviews
The researcher used formal interviews as the major method of data collection which enabled the
researcher to deal with respondents directly to get first hand information, explain some hard
questions at the same time have a direct interaction with the employees.
The study also reviewed existing information materials related to the study problem and
variables in form of reports, existing journals, websites and databases to gain information on the
topic.
3.7.1 Questionnaire
Self-administered questionnaires covering all the aspects of the study variables and accompanied
with a five-point Likert scale response continuum, that is 1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 =
undecided, 4 = disagree and 5= strongly disagree, were used for this study to collect data.
3.7.2 Interview guide
The researcher used Interview guides as a tool of data collection which enabled the researcher to
deal with respondents directly to get first hand information, explain some hard questions and at
the same time have a direct interaction with the employees.
The concept of validity ensures that the instruments were used to yield relevant and correct
data. To ensure validity data collection instruments were constructed in such a way that they had
an adequate number of items and that each items or question on the scale had a link with the
objectives of the study and were covered in a full range of issues that was measured. Where
necessary, questionnaires were revised accordingly to suit the objectives of the study. It was
validated by lecturers of the department in addition to the project supervisor.
A letter of authorization was provided as a request for permission to conduct the study. A
covering letter accompanied the questionnaires explaining the purpose of the study and the
questionnaires were distributed directly to the respondents. The respondents were given time to
fill the questionnaire and were collected after one week.
The data were analyzed by the mean values of the respondents’ responses based on the cut-off
point obtained from the values allocated to the 4-point scale. The formula for the cut-off point is:
∑fx
Strongly Agree - 4
Agree - 3
Disagree - 2
Strongly Disagree - 1
4+ 3+2+1 10
∑fx ¿ 4
= =2.5
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Any scale less than the cut-off means rejected and any scale on the cut-off point and above is
accepted.
Each value of the scale is multiplied by x to get (fx) for each of the variables was obtained by
dividing the sum of the frequency.
Where:
N = Number
∑ = Summation
Financial problem; the study needed a lot of money for many functions. For example, printing
questionnaires, feeding, traveling to the places where the respondents were located. Financial
problem seem to be a big factor that affected the study.
Time management; the time allocated for the research was not enough to gather the information
from the field and interpret it. However, the researcher tried to do most of the activities of the
research in time basing on the researcher’s work plan.
Lack of storage facilities; limited access to cloud storage for record keeping such as school
reports, student information system, employee records etc., posses a serious challenge in data
collection and analysis.