CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
Research
design is the plan, structure and the strategy of investigation conceived so as
to obtain answers to the research questions and
control variance. It is a blue print that guides the
researcher in conducting her study. It could manifest in three major ways viz; survey,
experimental, and ex-post facto design (Onwumere, 2005). This study employed the
survey method. The method involved using a
self-designed questionnaire in collecting data from respondents. It also included the use of interviews and direct observations in gathering data
necessary to analyze the formulated hypotheses (Eleje
and Okafor, 2010).
The method was chosen in order to make reference to phenomena as they exist in
real life. Besides, it is relatively economical in terms of time and resources.
Survey method enabled the researcher to assess both primary
and secondary data. It is more
realistic than experimental method when evaluating primary data in that it investigates phenomenon in its natural
setting.
3.2 AREA OF THE STUDY
This
study was concentrated in Enugu state. Enugu, one of the 36
constitutionally recognized states in Nigeria, has a population of
approximately 3.2 million inhabitants based on the 1991 census. The preliminary
findings of the 2006 census indicate that the population has increased to 3.9
million. The people primarily belong to the Igbo ethnic group, which is
one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. The state capital is Enugu
(derived from enu ugwu meaning “hill top”). The state was created on
27th August 1991 from the old Anambra State. Enugu town was previously the
capital of the then Eastern Region and also East Central State. Enugu is an
inland state and one of the five states in the South East geo-political zone of
Nigeria occupying a surface area of 8,000 sq. km. It shares its boundaries in
the east with Ebonyi State, in the west with Anambra State, in the north with
Kogi and Benue States and in the south with Abia State. The two major towns are
Enugu and Nsukka.
The state comprises of three geo-political zones made
up of 17 legally constituted Local Government Authorities (LGAs), although a
further 39 Local Government Development Centres (LGDCs) were created in 2004 by
the then Governor. The latter are not recognized by the Federal government. The
latest administration has redesignated the LGDCs as Local Government Development
Areas. These include Aninri, Awgu, Enugu East, Enugu North,
Enugu South, Ezeagu, Igbo Etiti, Igbo-Eze
North, Igbo-Eze South, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East, Nkanu West,
Nsukka, Oji River, Udenu, Udi, and Uzo-Uwani. These development centres are
managed by an Administrator rather than an appointed Chairman and have reverted
to being accountable to their parent LGA.
The state is
predominantly agrarian but is regarded as an “educational state” since it has a
preponderance of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions. The major mineral for which Enugu is known
worldwide is coal and this gives the state the sobriquet “Coal City State”. The
major employer of labour in the state is government (local and state), although
there is a vibrant private sector made up of mainly small and medium scale
enterprises. Some of the leading
private manufacturing firms which coincidentally are selected for the study
include Emenite, Innoson, Hardis & Dromedas amongst others. This firms have
contributed significantly to employment generation and corporate social
responsibilities in the state.
3.3 SOURCES
OF DATA
The data for this study was generated from
both primary and secondary sources.
3.3.1 Primary
Data: This is a form of data that is raw
and uncollated. This type of data was generated from the
respondents who were mainly staff from the selected firms. The instruments used in generating the data were self designed questionnaire, interviews, and direct
observations by the researcher. The
questionnaire was designed in likert scale format to eliminate bias in the respondents’ choice of
selection. It contained 27 questions
structured into two main sections.
Section one was the background data of the
respondents. It carried 7 questions covering age, sex, marriage
statues, qualifications,
staff category, position and organization’s name. The second section carried 20 questions
focusing majorly
on the objectives of the study.
3.3.2 Secondary
Data: Secondary data is a processed or
collated data got from mainly published and unpublished works, including annual
reports, government and organizational articles amongst others. The secondary data for this study were sourced majorly from the companies’ articles, Journals, Magazines, dailies, seminar and workshop
papers, as
well as unpublished materials in the form
of handouts and project works earlier done in this area. The main instruments for the secondary data were the libraries and internet facilities.
3.4 POPULATION OF THE STUDY
A
population according to Osuala (1993) is a group of thing with similar
characteristics. Onwumere (2005) defined it as a
thing comprising all elements, subjects, and perhaps observations in relation
to a particular phenomenon. The target population for this study was derived from both the junior
and senior staff of the three companies slated for the study. The two
categories of staff were necessary due to the nature of information required to
achieve the stated objectives. Evaluation of records from the personnel
department of the three firms revealed that the total number of both junior and
senior staff of the three firms was two thousand, seven hundred and forty seven (2,747) and this formed the target population.
Below is a tabular
representation of the population in line with firm and staff position:
|
Company
|
Senior Staff
|
Junior Staff
|
Total
|
|
Emenite Limited
|
202
|
823
|
1025
|
|
Innoson Group
|
126
|
780
|
906
|
|
Hardis & Dromedas
|
314
|
502
|
816
|
|
Total
|
642
|
2105
|
2747
|
Source: Personnel Departments of the Companies.
3.5 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION AND DISTRIBUTION
A sample is a
representation of a population. It is necessary in research when a population
of study is so large that it will be too difficult to manage without bias. A
sample size could be obtained by employing the Taro Yamane (1964:208) sample
size statistical determination model thus:
n =
Where:
n = Sample size
N = Total Population (2747)
e = Tolerable error taken as
5%
Employing the above model, the sample size (n) for this study was
determined thus:
2747
1+2747
(0.05) (0.05)
2747
7.8675
= 349. This
figure formed the sample that were issued questionnaire.
However, since this
research was a cross-company study, it became imperative to determine the
various company proportion of the sample. The Bowler’s (1996:56) sample proportion model was used thus:
nh
= Nh x
S
N 1
Where:
nh = Firms share of sample Size
Nh = Firms part of Population Size
N = Population
S = Sample Size
Emenite = 1025 x 349 = 130
2747 1
Innoson = 906 x 349 = 115
2747
1
Hardis and Dromedas = 816 x 349 = 104
2747
1
Total = 349
Arising from the above
evaluation, Emenite was issued 130 questionnaire, Innoson group, 115; while Hardis and Dromedas was issued 104 respectively.
3.6 SAMPLING
TECHNIQUE
Sample selection
technique or procedure is simply the procedure the researcher employed in choosing the sample of study.
Generally, it can be grouped into random or probability sampling method
and non-random or non-probability
sampling method. This study adopted the probability random sampling
procedure. The justification is that the population of study had similar characteristics in respect of the information
expected from them. As a result, the researcher believed that any member of the population stood equal chance of providing her valid data for her analysis. Besides,
random sampling technique gives every member in a sampled population equal chance of being selected. For this reason, the researcher distributed her questionnaire randomly to all
the 349 staff of the three firms that were sampled for the study.
The process was executed on a hand-to-hand basis
and was retrieved same as well.
3.7 ESTABLISHING THE VALIDITY OF THE INSTRUMENT
To
ensure that the instruments measured what they were intended
to measure, validity test was carried out. A
pilot study was used to establish the validity of the instrument. Runkel and Grath (1922:20), Borg and
Gall(1983:72), viewed pilot study technique as the process of a study which involves analysis of data following closely the procedure
planned for the main study before launching the said main study.
The
researcher used pilot respondents from the
population different from population of the study but having similar
features. The selected firms and staff
were given copies of the questionnaire to answer. The score tests were collected after they had duly
completed the exercise. No rigorous statistical
test was used. The researcher went
through the number of skewed responses in the form and necessary modifications
were made in order to correct them as to convey the correct meaning that
elicited the proper response. Based on this, therefore, the instruments were
taken to have passed the validity test.
3.8 RELIABILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT
The
reliability of the instruments was also tested.
According to Nwankwo (1984:12), reliability concerns the accuracy (i.e. consistency and stability) of measurement of a phenomena or subject.
In other words, reliability deals with the consistency of the instrument
after several measurements. The
test-retest method involving giving a
different set of firms and staff respondents the same questionnaire on two occasions
after a time interval was used to demonstrate the reliability of the instrument. A total of 25
respondents were chosen from the population different from the pilot survey but
having similar characteristics with the population of study. The 25 respondents were
given a copy of the questionnaire each respectively and asked to put down the
predetermined identified number given to them before completing the tests. This enabled the researcher to distinguish
one questionnaire from the other. The
completed tests were collected and kept aside.
The same set of questionnaire was given to same respondents after some
days. After completing the tests, they
were collected by the researcher. With
the aid of predetermined identification numbers on the tests, the researcher
compared the responses given by each respondent on the two occasions.
Out
of 25 respondents, none showed a marked disparity in their responses to the two
tests. This was an indication of
consistency of the test over time. Thus
the reliability of the instrument was determined using cronbach alpha
statistical tool.
3.9 METHOD OF
DATA ANALYSIS
Tsshe Special Package for
Social Science (SPSS) computer version was employed to analyze and test the data generated for the study. The analysis and test was in line with the research objectives, research questions and the hypotheses formulated in chapter one. The researcher first used the computerized likert scaling method
to evaluate the questionnaire. Accordingly,
the responses by the respondents to some of the items in the questionnaire were compiled into tables with respect to the main variables being examined. Percentage analysis was employed to analyze the questions in the questionnaire and ‘on the spot’
assessement made. The inferential statistics using the Friedman’s Chi-Square method and T-statistics
were subsequently used to test the five hypotheses formulated in chapter
one. Specifically this
work borrowed the Friedman’s model from
the work of Eleje and Okafor (2010). The Friedman’s Chi-Square model employed by these authors is of the form:
X2c = å k (01
– e1) + (02 – e2)
+ (03 – e3)
+ …. + (0n – en)
i=I e1 e2 e3 en
Where:
01 => First
observed frequency
0n => nth
observed frequency
e1=> First expected
frequency
en => nth expected
frequency.
Using
a hypothetical scenario to buttress the point we make the following
assumptions:
01 = 4
02 = 3
e1 = 0.8
e2 = 0.7
Hence, x2c
=> å (o-e)2/e
i=1
Table 3.2
Calculated Chi
Square
|
O
|
E
|
o-e
|
(o-e)2
|
(o-e)2/e
|
|
4
|
0.8
|
3.2
|
10.24
|
12.8
|
|
3
|
0.7
|
2.3
|
5.29
|
7.56
|
|
|
|
|
|
X2c
= 20.36
|
REFERENCES
Anastasi, A.(1969), Psychological Testing, The Macmillan Company, Collier Macmillan
Limited, London, Toronto.
Borg M and Gall D (1983) Educational Research; An Introductory (4th Edition): New York, Longman.
Chukwuemeka, E.E.O. (2002) Research Method and Thesis Writings: A
Multi-Discipline Approach, Enugu: Hope –Rising Ventures Publishers.
Dibua, E.C. and Dibua E.C.
(2005) Element of Business Statistics (Vol.
2), Onitsha: Good Success print
Eleje, Edward O. and Okafor,
F.O. (2010), “Development of Commodity Derivatives Market in Nigeria: An
Empirical Assessment”, African Journal of
Contemporary Issues, Vol.10 No.1
Lapin, L.L. (1988) Statistics for Modern Business Decisions, New York: Journo Vital Inc
Lucey, T. (1996) Quantitative
Techniques, London: DP
Publications
Nwankwo, J.I. (1984) Mastering Research in Educational and Social Sciences: Ibadan, Bisi Books.
Onwumere, J.U.J. (2005), “Business and Economic
Research Methods” Lagos, Don-Vinton Ltd
Osuala, E.C. (1987) Introduction To Research Methodology;
Onitsha, Africana-Fep.
Runkel, J. Philip and Grath,
M.E. Joseph (1972) Research On Human
Behaviour: A Systematic Guide To Method: San Francisco; Holt Reinhart and
Winston.
Yarmane, Y. (1964) Statistics: An Introductory Analysis,
3rd Edition New York: Harper and Row Publishers
THE EFFECT OF LEADERSHIP ON POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE
MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN ENUGU STATE