SECTION THREE: RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY
3.1. Research Design
Here one describes the approach that has been used to construct the study in its entirety. It could
be case study, survey, correlational, causal, descriptive, exploratory etc. It is advised that one
uses a combination of words that best describe the study. See Sample 17 below

Sample 17
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is a collective term for the structured process of conducting research. In
this section a description research process which includes research design, target population,
sampling procedures, size, as well as the instruments that will be used in data collection and
analysis is exhaustively described.

3.1 Research Design

A research design constitutes the collection, measurement and analysis of data (Schindler, 2008).
In this study correlational research design will be adopted. Correlational studies focus on
relationships among variables in a study (Mugenda 2008). If there is a relationship between change
management and performance this study will be able to determine the magnitude of one variable
based on the information of the other variable

3.2. Study Area

The area covered by the study in terms of the context. Describe precisely where and how far
geographically the study is going to be conducted. Sample 18 below

Sample 18

3.2 Study Area

The area under study area is in Nairobi which is Kenya’s capital city and the study will be carried
out at Nairobi and Sewerage Company main office in Industrial area where all the company’s
administrative and operational functions are controlled from. All directors of various departments
and senior management officers are found in this office
3.3. Target Population
Target population refers to the total number of subjects or objects from which you wish to obtain
data and to which the results of the study will refer. It is the people you will interview, the group
you will observe, the objects you will measure. You can decide the group is too large to contact
one by one each. For this reason, you may go for a representative fraction of the group. If 1000
small scale farmers of Muhoroni Division, one may decide to take 250 of them. The decision to
use a fraction of the population follows a step by step systematic and scientific approach called
sampling. Whether collecting data from the whole population or a fraction, in this section, total
population is stated and the breakdown is given. This breakdown can be in table form. See Sample
19 below

Sample 19

3.3 Target population

Kombo (2006) defines a population as a group of individuals, objects or items from which samples
are taken for measurement. The target population for this study is all the two hundred and sixty
two (262) staff in Nairobi water and Sewerage Company at Industrial area office except the level
of subordinate for the purpose of generalization. These are the people who are currently on the
payroll of the company and are permanent and pensionable. The study is interested with the
feedback given by these employees since all the strategic decision making for the company is done
mostly by these people. The staff’s job groups in this office will be used to get a sample population.

Table 3.1: Population distribution of the various job groups at Nairobi water and Sewerage
Company

JOB GROUPS POPULATION

DISTRIBUTION
Board of directors 8
Functional directors ( Job group 1) 10
Regional Managers (Job group 2) 14
Coordinators (Job group 3) 30
Officers (Job group 4) 80
Assisting officers(Job group 5) 120
Total 262
Source: Adopted from NWSC payroll, 2013
3.4. Sampling
3.4.1 Sample Size
Give the fraction of the population you will collect data from. State how you arrive at the figure.
There are many formulae for calculating sample size. State the one you have used and show how
you are using it. Indicate the Source of the formula. See sample 20 below

Sample 20
3.4 Sample size
The formula adopted in this study to calculate the sample size (n)
n= N/ [1+N (e)²] (Yamane, 1967)
Where n is the required sample size, N (262) is the population of permanent employees in the pay
roll and e is the level of precision at 95% confidence level set at 0.05.

Therefore;
n= 262/ [1+262(0.05)*(0.05)] =262/1.655
= 158 employees

3.4.2 Sampling Technique

The formula used to draw the sample. How sample was created. How the subjects or objects
joining the sample were chosen. See sample 21 below

Sample 21

3.4.2 Sampling Technique

The study used stratified random sampling to pick respondents from the population to join the
sample.

Table 3.2: Table showing the distribution sample (Sampling Frame)

Source : Adopted from NWSC payroll 2013
JOB GROUPS POPULATION SAMPLE
DISTRIBUTION DISTIBUTION
Board of directors 8 5
 Functional directors ( Job group 1) 10 6
Regional Managers (Job group 2) 14 9
Coordinators (Job group 3) 30 18
Officers (Job group 4) 80 48
Assisting officers(Job group 5) 120 72
Total 262 158

3.5 Data Collection

3.5.1 Type and Sources of Data
This refers to type of data that will be used, commonly, primary, secondary or both types.
Sources where data would be obtained are also mentioned such as relevant reports and
publications for secondary data and the respondents for primary data. See sample 22below.

Sample 22

3.5 Data collection

3.5.1 Data Type and Sources
This study will use both primary and secondary data .Self-administered structured and semi
structured questionnaire will be used to obtain primary data from the sample.
Secondary data will be obtained from the Nairobi water records at their offices, related reports
and journals, periodicals and reviewing government record. Information obtained from secondary
data has been used extensively to build the literature review.

3.5.2 Data Collection Procedure

Mention how you will proceed to collect data. See sample 23 below

Sample 23

3.5.2 Data Collection Procedure

The researcher will proceed to obtain permission from Maseno University. It will also seek authority from
other relevant authorizes before going to the field to interview respondents.

3.5.3 Instrument for Data Collection

Give the instruments you will use to collect both primary and secondary data. They could be
questionnaires, interview guide or schedule etc. See sample 24 below

Sample 23
3.5.3 Instrument for Data Collection
Structured and semi-structured questionnaires will be used to collect primary data while
secondary data will be collected using data review schedule.

3.5.4 Reliability and Validity Test for

Data Collection Instrument
This stage presents the steps taken to ensure instrument indeed collects what it was intended to
collect and that it can be relied upon i.e respondents will understand it the same way and respond
according to that understanding. See sample 24 below

Sample 24
3.5.4 Instrumentation validity and reliability
Expert opinion will be sought on the data collection instruments. The researcher’s supervisors will
provide this opinion. This will help in validity check. It will also be pre-tested on 10 conveniently
chosen respondents to check for reliability.

3.6 Data Analysis and Presentation

Give methods of data analysis here. If percentages, if averages, if standard deviations, if
ANOVA, if Chi Square, if Correlation, or if regression state them. See sample 25 below

Sample 25

3.8 Data analysis and presentation

Descriptive statistics will be used to analyse data. This descriptive statistics include measure of
central tendency (mean, mode and medium), measure of dispersion (variance, standard deviation
and range) and measure of relationship. Karl Pearson’s coefficient of correlation will be used to
investigate the effect of change management to the performance of NCWSC. Qualitative data will
be analysed by use of themes. Tables and Charts will be used in this study to present the findings.

3.7. Research Ethics

In this step, write down the areas of concern by the subjects you are going to collect data from and
about. This is important when you are dealing with human beings as respondents who are likely
to raise issues regarding how the research might harm or benefit them. In this section show how
you intend to handle such matters. See sample 26 below
Sample 26
3.9 Ethical issues
During the research process the researcher will maintain utmost confidentiality about the
respondents by ensuring that the name of the respondent is not putt on the questionnaire. The
researcher will ensure that all respondents are given a free will to participate and contribute
voluntarily to the study. In addition, the researcher will make sure that necessary research
authorities were consulted from the management of the organization and permission granted. Clear
explanations on the purpose of the research will be given to the respondents before commencement
of the study. Confidentiality of the respondents’ feedback will also be maintained throughout the
research process.