CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 introductions

Research methodology features the ways, steps and techniques that are adopted and utilized in

directing a research on a given area or topic and other specific reasons related to the research

documentation, evidence and findings. This chapter involves an elaborate description of the

research design and methodology carried out in the study. In addition, it covers a comprehensive

plan on the process of acquiring the data used for the study and their different sources, the

various methods used in the data analysis and the criteria for the selection of the methods and

techniques.

3.1 Research Design

Research design basically shows what the major topics in the research are and their details. It

provides an outline of how the research will be carried out and the methods that will be used. It

includes an abstract of the research study, the assumptions and limitations of the research,

research question hierarchy, sampling design and a format for the dummy data showing how data

will be presented.

The survey research design which is used in this study aims at examining the comprehensive

examination of the role of artificial intelligence in mitigating cybercrime: prospects, challenges,

and ethical implication. It is a Survey Research Study using questionnaire and personal interview

as the instrument of drawing information from respondents.

3.2 Population of the study

The targeted populations that will be used in this study are random students that study in

university of Ilorin and that also have the knowledge of artificial intelligence. There are about

233 students selected randomly in university of Ilorin.

3.3 Sample Size determination

The sample size for this research study will be determined using Yamane Taro’s Formula; the

sample size will be calculated as thus:

To determine the sample size, Taro Yamane’s formula would be adopted:

To find n

n= N

1 + N (e)²

n = 233

e = 0.05

n = 233

1 + 233 (0.05)²

= 233
 1 + 233 (0.0025)²

= 233

1 + 0.5825

= 233

1.5825

Therefore, n 147.24 = 150

3.4 Inclusion Criteria

This will consist of students in university of Ilorin, who will give their consent to it after being

informed.

3.4.1 Exclusion Criteria

The students selected randomly at university of Ilorin who will not give consent after being

informed.

3.5 Sampling Technique

Sampling techniques is a process used in statistical analysis in which a predetermined number of

observations will be taken from a larger population. The methodology used to sample from a

larger population will depend on the type of analysis being performed, but will include simple

random sampling, systematic sampling and observational sampling. The simple random sample

was used in this study.

3.6 Research Instrument

The research instrument used for this study is questionnaires. Questionnaire is used in order to

acquire answers to the research questions and objectives of the research work. The

questionnaires entails two sections. The first part consists of demographic information of the

respondents which include gender, level of respondent and this give respondents’ Section B

contains close ended questions that will provide answers to the research objectives.

3.6.1 Primary data

The study employs primary data to achieve its aims. The primary data will be obtained from

questionnaires. The plan, structure and strategy of investigation are conceived so as to obtain

answers to research problems. It ensures that the required data are collected and they are

accurate. However, the primary data used in this study is obtained from university of Ilorin.

3.6.2 Secondary Data

Secondary data is information collected by others for purposes, which can be different than those

of the researcher. It is a synthesis of published and unpublished documents related to the research

and it is of highly important, as it comprises the logical framework of the research.

3.6.3 Questionnaires Design

A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of series of questions and other prompts for

the purpose of gathering information from respondents. Most often it is designed for statistical

analysis of the responses. According to Sekeran, (2003), „a questionnaire is a pre-formulated

written set of questions to which respondents‟ records their answers, usually within rather

closely defined alternatives‟. A questionnaire was structured for this research (Appendix 1)

These questionnaires were handed directly to the respondents by the researchers which gave the

researchers the privilege to introduce the topic and encouragement in answering the

questionnaire.

The questionnaire consists of closed ended and open ended questions. Open-ended questions are

questions to which there is not one definite answer. Open-ended questions may be a good way to

break the ice with a survey, giving respondents an opportunity to answer in their own words. The

responses to open-ended questions can be very useful, often yielding quotable material, and the

drawback to open-ended questions is that the responses are more difficult to catalogue and

interpret.

The questionnaire serves as a major tool for the collection of data for the study. It is divided into

two sections. Section A Which provided Bio-data about the respondents and section B provided

information which was used in the analysis and test of hypothesis formulated for the study. The

questionnaire of the study would be distributed to staffs of vand later collected for analysis.

3.7 Validity Of The Instrument

The validity of the instrument will be ensured through peer review, review by experts, review by

the supervisor and review of relevant past literature, researchers for face and content validity.

3.8 Reliability Of The Instrument

A pretest on reliability of the instrument will be used to measure the reliability coefficient of the

questionnaire. A pilot study will be conducted for 10% of the sample size staffs that lectures in

university of Ilorin and this population is not inclusive of the study population.

3.9 Method Of Data Collection

The questionnaire will be administered by the researcher. Questionnaires will be distributed

using simple random sampling method among some selected students in university of ilorin.

Participation will be made voluntary; the selected students in university of Ilorin will be duly

informed about the details of the study.

3.10 Method Of Data Analysis

The data will be collected categorically. Data will be analyzed by first making sure that the

questionnaires collected were numbered and questionnaires will be arranged according to the

numbers.

The result expected from the questionnaires will be analyzed in frequencies and simple

percentages, result will also be analyzed using Social science Statistical Package (SPSS version

20). Chi square analysis will be used to explore the relationship between variables. Both

descriptive and inferential statistics will be used. Statistical calculations will be performed with

the raw data using sample percentages to provide answers to the research questions. The

presentation of results gotten in the questionnaire will be in form of tables followed by a detailed

analysis of the results and statistics in which the interpretations taken from the result of the

analysis will be used to inference pertaining to the research questions which will be used to draw

conclusion about the research.

3.11 Ethical Consideration

A letter of introduction would be stated at the beginning of the questionnaire. All respondents in

the study will be duly informed about the reason for the study and given a choice whether or not

to participate in the study. Written consent will be obtained and confidentiality will be ensured.

Researcher will try to make sure that no physical or emotional harm is caused to the respondents

and will make sure that the integrity of the research is preserved.