RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - RESEARCH DESIGN
This
study adopted a survey research design method. This means that the subject
under study was carried out in the local setting (Onicha L.G.A) and information
was received through questionnaire. A survey design method is one which a group
of people or items are studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few
people or items considered to be the representative of the entire group (Ijiogwe,
2002). In the context of this work, local government staff and also some group
of randomly selected tax payers in Onicha Local
Government Area are the
representative of Onicha L.G.A in respect of survey design method. More so, as
quantitative research type, the questionnaire collected for the study were analyzed
using tables, frequency distribution and simple percentage to determine the
result.
AREA OF THE STUDY
The
area or location of this study is the Onicha Local Government Area. This study
covers the generation and disbursement of finance in Onicha Local Government
Area.
POPULATION OF
THE STUDY
Onicha is
an agrarian local government with a projected population of about 350 thousand
people (NPC, 2006). Of these are the totals of about 300 staff spread across
the various departments in the council. The population of this study is
contained in this table:
|
S/N
|
DEPARTMENT
|
POPULATION
|
PERCENTAGE
|
|
1
|
personal
|
50
|
16. 6%
|
|
2
|
finance
|
75
|
25. 0%
|
|
3
|
health
|
65
|
21. 7%
|
|
4
|
works
|
80
|
26. 7%
|
|
5
|
agriculture
|
30
|
10.0%
|
|
|
total
|
300
|
100%
|
Source:
chinyere’s field survey, 2011.
SAMPLE SIZE AND
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE,S
The sample
size of the study can be obtained using the yaro-yamini formular (1964). This
was to reduce the population to a simpler researchable size considering the
insufficient time and resources available to the researcher.
The formular is given as:
n = N
1+N(e) 2
Where; n = desired sample size = ?
N = total population = 300
e = error margin = 0.05
I = constant
.: n= 300
1+300(0.05)2
n= 300
1+300(0.0025)
n = 300
1+0.75
n= 300
1.75
n
=171
A sample
size of 171 (one hundred and seventy one) was obtained having applied the
yaro-yamini formular. Also, this study combined simple random sampling and
stratified sampling random sampling was to ensure that every member of the
population has equal and independent chance of being selected in the sample to
be studied. On the other hand, stratified sampling ensures that samples are
divided into groups (called strata) on bases of common characteristics among
each group.
SOURCES OF DATA
COLLECTION
Please,
copy your former “3.2” to this place. The data for this study were collected
from two difference sources. They were the primary sources and the secondary
sources.
PRIMARY SOURCES: the primary sources of data were gathered from personal
interview and distribution of questionnaires. The interviews included
discussions with top public officers, civil servant and local government
service commission staff. The researcher nonetheless conducted personal
interview with various other groups including members of the (NULGE). This was
to ensure that views of all the groups were adequately represented because of
the social relevance of this study.
SECONDARY SOURCES: The secondary sources of data were mostly from write
ups, articles both published, textbook written by several authors. For this
purpose several libraries were visited, they include, Ebonyi Library, the state
library.
The
researcher would like to note that since the country became a democratic one,
the staffs of these various government agencies were more responsive to the
researcher’s request for materials and information.
3.6 METHOD OF DATA
COLLECTION
the
questionnaire of this study which was design to capture the required data or
information that would be used to study the subject matter under investigation,
were distributed to staff in the five (5) selected department and some group of
randomly selected tax payers in Onicha Local Government Area by the researcher.
METHOD OF DATA
ANALYSIS
In analyzing the data, the simple percentage technique
was employed with frequency distribution table. This study was conducted using
both structured and unstructured questionnaires. The structured questionnaire
most of which are in the close ended form, allows the respondents to close from
the listed answers in the questionnaire which he/she thinks is the best answer
to the question by ticking good () in the box against the answer. This was
aimed at capturing the relevant information needed for the study.
However,
in testing the hypotheses of the study, the “chi-square (x2) method
was used as the statistical tool.
The
formular for chi-square (x2) is given as:
X2 = £ (0-E)2
E
Where; x2
= chi-square
£
= Summation
0
= Observed
frequency
E
= Expected frequency.
TESTS OF
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF DATA AND
INSTRUMENT
the
questionnaire for this study was
validated by the project supervisor and other expect in public administration
their suggestions, corrections and modifications were taken into consideration
while preparing the field draft of the questionnaires.
RELIABILITY
The test- retest reliability was adopted to determine
the reliability of the instrument. The instrument (questionnaires) were
administered to the staff and some group of randomly selected tax payers in
Onicha L.G A. out of the population were each given a copy of the
questionnaires in the first place to respond to and their responses were
received two (2) week later.
The
researcher re-administered another set of the questionnaires to the very first respond.
Based on the rating from two (2) different occasions by the same set of
respondents, the researcher computed the test- retest reliability. The results
obtained were high enough for the instrument to be considered reliable.