Research Design and Methodology (Research Proposal Sample)

CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter contains the research design used, target population of the study, the sampling procedure and sample size, data collection instrument, validity and reliability of the study, data procedure and data analysis.
3.2 sample and sampling procedure
Kothari (2004) define a sample as part of the target population that has been procedural selected to represent it. Sampling is the process of systematically selecting representative elements of a population. The study will employ census sampling to select the top management and middle management of the firm. A sample size of 35 managers will be selected for the study
Table 3.1: Sampling Size
Category

Sampling Procedure

Sample size

Top managers

10*100%

10

Middle managers

25*100%

25

Total


35

(Source: Author, 2015)
3.3 Target Population
Target population is the people a researcher selects as respondents in the study are vital in achieving the set objectives, Kombo (2006). The researcher will target mangers from Raiply firm within Eldoret town, Uashin Gishu County Kenya. The target population will include 10 top managers and other 25 middle managers. The target population will be 35 managers.
Table 3.2 Target population
Respondents

Target population

Top managers
Middle managers

10
25

Total

35

Source: Author, 2015
3.4 Data Collection Instruments
The researcher will use questionnaire as data collection instrument and interview schedules for top management.
3.4.1 Questionnaire
Kothari (2007) defines a questionnaire as that consisting of a number of questions printed or typed in a definite order on a form or set of forms. The researcher will construct closed- ended and open- ended questionnaires, which will be administered to managers within Raiply Eldoret. Adequate time will be given to the respondent to answer questions and the respondent will use semi-structured questionnaires to avoid misunderstanding or wrong interpretation. The questionnaire utilized a five point likert scale namely Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Neutral (N), Disagreed (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) which will be assigned scores of between 5and 1. This will allow the researcher to draw conclusions based on comparisons made from the responses. The researcher will opt to use questionnaires so as to collect a lot of information over a very short period of time.
3.5Validity and Reliability of the Study
3 .5.1 Validity
This means that the research method produces information which is relevant to the topic i.e. does the research method actually measure what it claims it is supposed to be measuring (Kombo, 2006).Validity is the extent to which differences found with a measuring instrument reflect true differences among those being tested (Kothari, 2007).
Vance (2011) describes the validity in quantitative research as "construct validity”. The construct is the initial concept, notion, question or hypothesis that determines which data is to be gathered and how it is to be gathered. They also assert that quantitative researchers actively cause or affect the interplay between construct and data in order to validate their investigation, usually by the application of a test or other process. In this sense, the involvement of the researchers in the research process would greatly reduce the validity of a test.
3.5.2 The Reliability
Tabachnick & Fidell (2007) defines reliability the extent to which results are consistent over time and an accurate representation of the total population under study is referred to as reliability and if the results of a study can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research instrument is considered to be reliable. Tabachnick & Fidell (2007) adheres to the notions that consistency with which questionnaire items are answered or individual’s scores remain relatively the same can be determined through the test-retest method at two different times. This attribute of the instrument is...