CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

Introduction

Chapter three dealt with the research method used, data collection methods, sampling

method and technique, the data collection process and how data was analyzed. It also provided

the analytical framework of the study by which the purposes of this study the research questions

were answered. For this work to be authentic and reproducible this research work explained all

the laid down procedures on how the data was collected and managed.

Research Design

Upon carefully examination of the research objectives and problem statement.

Descriptive research was the type of research approach that was considered as being convenient

for this research. Descriptive research can be described as either quantitative or qualitative. It can

involve collections of quantitative information that can be tabulated along a continuum in

numerical form, such as scores on a test or the number of times a person chooses to use a-certain

feature of a multimedia program, or it can describe categories of information such as gender or

patterns of interaction when using technology in a group situation. Descriptive research involves

gathering data that describe events and then organizes, tabulates, depicts, and describes the data

collection (Glass & Hopkins, 1984). It often uses visual aids such as graphs and charts to aid the

reader in understanding the data distribution. Because the human mind cannot extract the full

import of a large mass of raw data, descriptive statistics are very important in reducing the data

to manageable form. When in-depth, narrative descriptions of small numbers of cases are

involved, the research uses description as a tool to organize data into patterns that emerge during

analysis.

In this study, the descriptive research method was employed so as to identify the impact

of training and supervision on organizational performance of CPC. The researcher opted to use

this research method considering the objective to obtain first hand data from the respondents.

The descriptive method is advantageous for the researcher due to its flexibility; this method can

use either qualitative or quantitative data or both, giving the researcher greater options in

selecting the instrument for data-gathering. The research is using employees of CPC as

respondents to gather relevant data; the descriptive method is then appropriate as this can allow

the identification of the similarities and differences of the respondents’ answers.

Research method

Abili K (2009) describes quantitative research as involving measurement of variables and

the delivery of findings in numerical form in which research findings are described by text of

significance, confidence intervals, and mathematically demonstrated relationships. Quantitative

research has been used to measure how people feel, think or act in a particular way and it is a

research technique that seeks to quantify data and apply some statistical analysis. It is often

formalized and well-structured and data is usually obtained from large samples – anything from

50 upwards (Tull & Hawkings, 1990). It also involves the use of structured questionnaires

usually incorporating mainly closed ended questions with set response (Miles & Huberman,

1994).

Sampling Technique

Considering the fact that the study covers such a vast area, not all the respondents can be

included in the study. It is thus significant to draw a sample from the population. Non-probability

methods were employed to select the sample for the study. In terms of the non-probability

method, the purposive sampling was selected which is a sampling technique characterized by a

deliberate effort to obtain representative samples through the inclusion of groups or typical areas

in a sample (Kerlinger, 1986). The researcher actively selects the most productive sample to

answer the research question as well as developing a framework of the variables that might

influence an individual's contribution and will be based on the researcher's practical knowledge

of the research area, the available literature and evidence from the study itself. The sample size

for the research was considered to be 70 employees from Cocoa Processing Company in Accra.

The total workforce of the company was currently about 333 employees therefore the sample

size of 70 was deem to be a fair representation of the total workforce.

Table 3.1 The composition of Workers at Cocoa Producing Company (CPC)

Total Workforce Total

Permeant Staffs 281

Temporary Staffs 52

Grand total 333

Target Population

Cooper and Schindler (2001) defined population as the total collection

of elements about which we wish to make some inferences. They indicated

that population relates to all members or elements in a given area which

conform to the limits within which the research findings are applicable.

Target population is all the members of a specified group to which the

investigation relates from which a sample is chosen for the study. It is a

recognized fact that the reliability and the accuracy of a survey is greatly

determined by the sample size taken out of the sample population. All

employees of Cocoa Processing Company in Accra comprising engineers, office clerks, account

clerks, computer operators, secretaries, drivers, machine operators, security officers and other

staffs of the company.

Source of Data Collection

The study made use of primary data. Primary data refers to data that are specifically

collected for a particular research project and are more often tailored to meet the exact needs of

the researcher.

The primary data for this research was gathered through questionnaires for permanent

and casual workers of CPC who were present at the time of the study. The questionnaire was

structured in a simple straight forward and consistent with the objectives of the research. The

reasons for using this method was that it was flexible and faster way of obtain information. Non

response is also low and supervision and control of responses is higher.

Data Collection Instrument

Questionnaires as a research instrument, was used to collect the

primary data. The questionnaire was generated based on the objectives of

the study. The researcher administered the questionnaires personally to the

respondents to elicit the necessary data. The items of the questionnaires

were mainly close- ended questionnaires.

The questionnaire was the main research instrument used in collecting

the data for the study in order to achieve the specific objectives, and taking

into consideration the sample size. For an easy understanding and reading,

the questionnaire was designed into two parts. The first part of the

questionnaire took consideration in the demographic factor of the

respondents. The second part of the questionnaire required the respondent

to rate their understanding on the effect of training and supervision on the

performance of CPC. The items on the questionnaire were closed ended-

questions making it easier for respondents to understand and answer.

Besides, it facilitated interpretation of data by standardizing alternative

responses. A Likert scale-typed questionnaire was used with responses

ranging from 1 to 5. A lower score on the scale indicates a high level

agreement with an opinion while a higher score indicates disagreement.

Data Analysis

The data will be quantitatively presented in tables. Descriptive

statistics (mean, standard deviations and median) are employed to analyze

the collected data. The data collected was coded into the computer and edited to ensure

consistency and checked for any omission, non-responses, validity and reliability of the

responses. The software used for these analyses is Statistical Package for Social Science software

(SPSS version 17) for the statistical analysis of the data and Microsoft Excel 2007.