3.6. DATA COLLECTION
TECHNIQUES
A technique is widely used by professionals in almost all
sectors of the industry, be it business, education, etc. The skills that are
needed to perform a particular activity (Cyrille, 2010:105, NUR). Data
collection refers to a method (process), in which information related to the
study is gathered by suitable mediums.
There are primary and secondary data collection techniques,
like interviews and questionnaires, books and guides, group discussions,
internet data, among others. However during this work I rely on various
important aspects in data collection and the leading here are the
following:
3.6.1. Interview
technique
This is a mode of data collection commonly used in collecting
information from people. A form of person-to-person interaction between a
researcher and the interviewed. However it is a direct
technique used to interview people individually or in groups
in certain cases, thus enabling to point out observations and comments in a
richer way than a survey or questionnaire.
According to Grawitz (1979:310) research interview is
a procedure of scientific investigation using a verbal communication process in
order to the set objective, which constitutes the collaboration of research or
the rejection of a research hypothesis.
Given that, interview mainly focuses on discussion and most of
respondents under the assessment have a minimum level of education, I have used
through discussions with different beneficiaries and stakeholders of Small and
Medium enterprises whom I judge to have both sufficient and relevant data.
3.6.2. Questionnaires.
Kendall (1992:135) says that, a questionnaire is an
information gathering techniques that gathers information about the attitudes,
beliefs from several respondents, organization that may be affected by the
system.
Grinnel and Williams (1990:228) defined a questionnaire as a
method used for collecting data, as a set of written question which calls for
response on the part of the client, may be either self-administered or
group-administered. Under this study the researcher-ended to use both the
closed-ended questions and the open-ended questions in order to facilitate the
work of the respondents and at the sometime to give the liberty of expressing
their views.
3.6.2.1. closed-ended questions
Grinnel and Williams (1990:228) asserted that, closed-ended
question is a type of question or interview schedule on a survey instrument
which limits the respondent's response by the use of pre-selected
alternatives.
3.6.2.2. Open-ended questions
According to Grinnel Jr and Williams (1990:228), an open-ended
question, is the type of question or on the interview schedule or a surveying
instrument which does not limits the respondents responses to any pre-selected
alternatives.
3.7.2.
Coding
Mannheim and C. Rich (1995:440) asserted that coding is the
process of assigning numerical values to represent values on variables. After
being edited the data was coded where the numbers were assigned to each of the
answer so that they could be easily summarized and analyzed.
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