Research is a way of looking at accumulated data.Raw data has to be collected analysed and interpreted before valid conclusion can be drawn .Research findings must rest on evidence .An important part of the research project is the choice of the method by which raw data are to be collected.
Sampling is where a large number of items can be represented by a smaller group of items (a sample)
Measurement of the whole is possible, but sampling represents a more efficient of our energy while still allowing us to make reliable statements about the whole population.
In public opinions calls for example politics .It is selection of some part of the totality on the basis of which a judgement about the totality is made, that's sampling is the process of obtaining information about entire population by examining only a part of it.Burges (1987:75) says,"sample is a means by which a selection is made from the basic unit of study."The objects of study are called "units of study."Therefore a sample is a sub set of total .It must be unbiased and represent the cross-section whole body of the project.That is like statements like:All Zimbabwean men have a tendency of marrying more than one wife.All people in Harare support Dynamos football club.
Leedy says the sample should be carefully chosen through it, the reseacher is able to see all the characteristics of the total population in the same relationship that the researcher would see them where actually to impact the totality of the population.
Types of sampling:
♦Simple Random Sampling involves choice of items is random(choose what you want)
♦ Simple Stratified Sampling this will be geared to Proportional and Cluster Sampling they are not very useful.
Advantage of Sampling:You save time, also save money.
It can be highly accurate if done by care, only part of whole is used to show what the resources of the group is like there by making sampling manageable financially and physically.
Research is conducted at a single point in time, so that the oponions of all respondence are comparable.
Purposes of Sampling are to estimate certain population parameters for example the average age of students,a sample is selected relevant statistics calculated ,documented the statistics used as an estimate of the desired population parameter. To test a statistical hypothesis for example you want to test a hypothesis at 80% of the households in the city of Harare have TV sets.You select a sample of people in Harare (households).Calculate the percentage of them with TV sets.Then it will verify your hypothesis.
You want to avoid or minimise bias in the construction of theories , to maximise precision.And to fulfill the requirements of the research projects.
Instruments For Data Collection there are four instruments which can be used:
(1)Questionnaire is an important version of interviews.
Advantages are completed at person's own convenient.There is a greater assurance of anonymity (you write what you want). There is no interviewer bias and can save money and time.
Disadvantages: People whom to be interviewed can give incorrect information.
People can fail to understand what the interviewer want.
(2) Interview is a private conversation between an interviewer and the targeted person so as to elicity certain information from the respondent .It is a face to face interaction.
Advantages:It is flexible and is also high response rate with full control over the enviroment
Problems: It costs more to organise .It takes a lot of time.There is also a problem of bias.And restriction of the freedom of the individual.
(3)Experimentation Normally assemble equipment in the laboratory.You make use of equipment.There is also observation of changes and collection of data.
Advantage is control the variable environment.
(4) Observation is a technique of collecting data on non-verbal behaviour .You observe changes (signs) Behaviour you want to observe is exposed in its natural set up.It is simple to administer but usually takes a long period of time.
Background to the Problem situates research problem into relevence complex .A rationale.Citation of literature , Statement of the problem and Sub problems
The importance of Significant of study is the theoretical value,the practical value,the importance of the study is to the learners,value it to the teachers and the system.and have to definition of terms.
Assumptions is the true reflect of what learners can understand.Assumptions must be clear and defendable.
Limitations are constraints ,problems encountered during a research.
Delimitations give a clear physical and theoretical boundaries of the study.
In research there are many problems ,social,economical ,educational and academic.
A research problem in general refers to some difficulty which a researcher faces in context and a theoretical or practical situation and want to obtain a solution to that problem.
Whether a problem situation requires a research depends on:
♦individual or a group or an organisation to whom the problem can be attributed.
♦perceived difference or discrepancy between what exist and idea or planned situation.
♦reasons of the difference should be unclear so that it make sense to develop a research problem.
♦more than one possible answer to the problem.
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