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CHAPTER THREE : RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter presents the research design used, the target population, sampling technique and sample size, the data collection instrument and procedure and, the data analysis and presentation technique.
3.2 Research Design
The research design adopted was a survey of pharmacies in Nyeri Town. The findings were a good representation of the real situation. A survey was considered best for it. It is a scientific method which involves observing, describing, recording, analyzing and reporting conditions that existed without alterations. It is also used to obtain pertinent and precise information concerning the current phenomenon and where possible, to draw valid general conclusions from the facts discovered.
3.3 Target Population
The total number of pharmacies in Nyeri Town is 37. The average number of employees per establishment ranged between 2 and 6 personnel. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), thirty percent of the target population is an ideal sample. The researcher chose one employee in the pharmacy directly linked to the procurement function of the business and multiplied that to the total number of pharmacies in Nyeri Town and then divided that figure by thirty percent. The resulting target population was concluded at 12 pharmacy procurement officers for this survey in Nyeri Town. The researcher also avoided duplication if results by not assigning questionnaires to franchise pharmacies with multiple outlets within Nyeri Town.
3.4 Sampling Technique and Sample Size
The researcher used an appropriate stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected from 12 respondents involved in procurement of medicines in random pharmacies in Nyeri Town.
3.5 Data Collection, Instruments, Validity and Reliability
Data collection is gathering empirical evidence in order to gain new insights about a situation and answer questions that prompt undertaking of the research. The study made use of both primary and secondary data. Quantitative and qualitative data was also used. The secondary data was collected during the literature review from various sources as acknowledged. The primary data collection instrument was a questionnaire. According to Chandran (2004), a questionnaire is a series of written questions on a topic about which the respondents' opinions are sought. The questionnaire was open-ended and also close-ended. A pilot study was conducted to determine relevance, the scope of the study and clarity of the questionnaire. The data collection procedure was a face-to-face interview method for 10 respondents. Two repondents were busy so they opted for a drop-and-pick method where the questionnaires were collected duly filled after 2 hours.
Validity is defined as the degree to which a test measures what it purports to measure Borg and Gall (1996) . Content validity is the degree to which the instrument measures what the test is designed to measure. This is important in the establishment of accuracy and truthfulness of the research. Orodho (2006) states that reliability of a measurement concerns the degree to which a particular procedure gives similar results over a number of repeated trials. To test the reliability of the instruments, the study employed a pre-test technique. A pilot study was carried out to determine the validity and reliability of the instruments used in the research by selecting one random pharmacy in Nyeri Town.
3.6 Data Analysis and Presentation
Data analysis was done after the piloting stage to detect errors and omissions for correction to ensure accuracy and consistency of data. Data coding was used to assign symbols to answers and to classify or categorize responses. The records were entered on tally sheets after systematic analysis of each individual variable. This was used for measuring completeness, occurence and clarity. Raw data collected from the field through primary data, is usually not well organized for interpretation. Data classification reduces data into homogeneous groups or attributes for meaningful relationships. The data collected was analyzed using quantitative techniques. The qualitative data generated was analyzed by use of each variable.