CHAPTER III .RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES
3.1. Introduction
Fred.N Kerlinger, (1964:700) stressed that the methodological
research is a controlled investigation of the theoretical and applied aspects
of measurements, mathematics, and statistics, and ways of obtaining and
analyzing data.
Contentmporary English dictionary (1995: 231), defines
methodology as a set of methods and principles that are used when studying a
particular kind of work.
A method comprises of all intellectual process, an orderly
system or arrangement that enables a researcher to reach on aspect of knowledge
by using various techniques. This chapter intends primarily to highlight the
methods and techniques that have been used in order to collect data for the
purpose of carrying out this study.
It is primarily intends to make description and analysis of
the role of Small and Medium Enterprises on rural development in Rwanda. For
this reason, it will bear an exploratory aspect, especially because there has
not been a similar study before.
This chapter gives a detailed presentation of the tools and
techniques that were used to investigate the research issues in the field. It
includes spelling out the area of the study and study population. It further
describes the methods and techniques used in the choosing the sample size and
selection instruments like questionnaire, interviews and documentation were
used. It also includes data processing, analysis and problems that were
encountered in this research, finally this chapter provides the back ground
against which the findings and conclusions of the study were examined and
appreciated regarding their reliability and validity.
3. 2. Research design
According to Churchill (1992:108) a research design is a
framework or a plan for the study used as a guide in collecting and analyzing
data. It is a blueprint that is followed in completing a study. He further
defines a research design as a plan of action, for the purposes of this study;
the researcher adopted a survey as his research design.
3.3. Sources of data
«A source is one of the materials that the researcher
uses for collecting information during the investigation» (Paige Wilson,
1989:2). The sources of data are both primary and secondary
data.
3. 3. 1. Primary data
«Primary data are those data collected to the specific
problem or issue under investigation. Primary data are necessary when a trough
analysis of secondary data is unable to provide satisfactory information»
JoelR. Evan and Barry Berman (1995: 20), GilbertA. Churchill Jr(1992:182);he
further argued that, primary data are collected to fit precise purposes of
current research problem.
To evaluate the overall value of primary data, the researcher
must weigh precision, currentness and reliability against high cost time
pressure and limited access to materials. The main techniques of primary data
collection were interviews and questionnaires given to the staff and population
around the enterprise. Therefore, primary data were collected from respondents
in the form of answers to the administered questionnaire as well as responses
where interviews were applied.
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