CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY
The methods and procedures adopted in the generation, processing and analysing of
data for a study go a long way in enhancing the quality of this research. Therefore, the
chapter focuses on the research design, population of the study, sampling and sampling
designs, and research instrument, the sources of data, the research conceptual model,
measurement of identified variables, pilot study; validity; and reliability of the instrument
procedures for the data collection, methods of data analysis and nevertheless, the limitations
of the methodology.
3.1

Research Design

The descriptive survey research design will be adopted as the study. According to Kpolovie
(2010) descriptive design is majorly used for studying relationship or interrelationship that
exists between dependent variable (criterion) and independent variables, as well allow
variables to be measured at the same time. This design is considered appropriate for this
study because it allows to determine the relative effect of training and development practices
on productivity and at the same time establish the degree of relationships that exists among
the hypothesized variables.
3.2

Population of the Study

The study population is comprised of all employees at Babcock University. The table

below gives a brief rundown of the make up for the population.

Table 3.1
1
2

Population of Staff at Babcock University

Academic Staff
Non-Academic Staff
Total
Source: BUHR (2015)

462
480
942

3.3

Sampling Techniques
The sampling technique for this study will be the use of stratified and simple random

technique. The stratified method will be used to group the population into strata then the
random sampling technique will be used to select the samples from the population.
3.4

Sample Size determination

The Yaro Yamani formula will be used to determine the sample size from the population. The
formula is given as follows.

n=

1+ N
1+ N ( e ) 2

Where n= Sample size

N= population size
e= population of sample error (0.05)
Determination of sample size for the research population;
n=

942
1+942 (0.05)2

n=

942
1+942 (0.05)2

n=

942
1+2.355

n=

942
3.355

n=
3.5

280
Method of Data Collection

The method to be adopted for the collection of data for this study will be the primary
method. Data will be collected from the respondents using self-structured/adapted
questionnaires designed and validated by the supervisor.
3.6

Research Instrument
The questionnaire will be adopted for this survey. The questionnaire will help to

obtain or generate a non-biased data from the respondents which will aid the analysis of the
work. The questionnaire will be divided into four sections. The first section will be based on
the demographic characteristics of the respondents, the second section will feature questions
on on-the job training, and the third section will feature questions on off-the job training
while the last section will be based on employee productivity. The scales for section two to
four will be a 6 point scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree.
Strongly agree = 1
Agree = 2
Fairly Agree = 3
Fairly Disagree = 4
Disagree = 5
Strongly disagree = 6

3.7

Pilot Study
A pilot study will be conducted by pretesting the questionnaire on staff member using

10% of the sample size figure on Babcock university high school staff members.
3.7.1

Validity of the Instrument

The validity of the research instrument will be ascertained by subjecting it to the scrutiny of
the research supervisor and other experts in the field of research.
3.7.2

Reliability of the Research instrument

The reliability of the research instrument will be ascertained by subjecting the pre-tested
questionnaires to a Cronbach Alpha test which will be acceptable at a coefficient of 0.7 and
above.
3.8 Method of Data Analysis
The descriptive and inferential statistics will used in analyse the data collected. The
descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage will be used in analysing the demographic
variables. Regression analysis will be used to examine the effect of training on employee
productivity and to test for the significance of the effects on isolated variables on the
explanatory, the study adopted the t-statistics, while the F-ratio was used to test the
aggregates of the explanatory variables using the following decision rule:
If Fcalculated > Ftabulated = reject the Ho and or Fcalculated < Ftabulated = accept the Ho.
3.8.1

Model Specification

Y = f(X)
Y = Employee Productivity
X = Training
X = f(x1, x2)
x1= on-the job training
x2 = off-the job training.
Therefore
Y = f(x1)
Y = f(x2)
Y = 0 + 1x1 +
Y = 0 + 2x2 +
3.9

Limitations of the Methodology

It becomes imperative to state that some limitations are inherent in the sequence of
methods and procedures adopted in this study. These limitations are highlighted as follows:
the selected sample size could limit generalization, there are problems of obtrusiveness and
social desirability biases in a research work that adopt the use of structured questionnaire
(Luthans and Davis, 1982). Similarly, some of the shortcomings of questionnaire
administration include psychometric problems, such as anonymity, language and External
response sets (Cozby, 2003). However, the researcher is of the opinion that the
aforementioned limitations arose out of the sequential methodological procedures adopted in
study. Nevertheless, none of the highlighted limitations is likely to have a material effect on
the findings of the study.