This section deals with methods that were used to gather data for this research study. The term data refers to the rough materials researchers collect from the world they are studying;
they are particulars that form the basis of analysis, (Bogdan and Biklen, 1992). Issues like the research design, data collection instruments and sampling techniques are covered in this section.
1.9.1. Research design
The inquiry was in the form of a surveyand this approach was used to probe the determined objective. The chosen research design helped the researcher in the collection of credible data from the target population.
1.9.2 The qualitative research paradigm
This research is predominantly qualitative in nature as it is a descriptive research tradition for things that cannot be measured such as feelings, behaviour, speech and thought. Qualitative research has richness and precision needed in a research study since it provides for the interpretation and analysis of data by the researcher, (McEnery and Andrew, 1996:54). Such research involves small samples of respondents who will provide descriptive information
17 about their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that can be easily projected onto the total population. According to Muranda (2004), qualitative research has three fundamental characteristics that distinguish it from quantitative research which are:
It involves small samples.
It combines indirect methods of investigating feelings, perceptions, attitudes and beliefs.
Results are premised on the fact that a small sample is being dealt with and generalised to a larger premise.
Borg and Gall (1990) postulates that Qualitative research involves holistic inquiry and is usually carried out in natural settings, where humans are the primary data gathering instruments and the researcher, the key instrument. Qualitative data are collected mainly in the form of words or pictures and seldom involve numbers and that is why it overly relies on the questionnaire and interview as data collecting instruments. Data is interpreted inductively.
This is explicitly stated by Bell (1993:141) who says, “the mark of judging qualitative evidence is the extent to which the details are sufficient or appropriate to the problem under investigation.”Thus, other reason for choosing the qualitative research design is that collected information is presented in a descriptive manner.
1.9.3. Sample
A sample is a group from whose responses shall be considered to be representing the pattern of responses in whole target population (Holiday 1995:103). The main purpose of sampling is to achieve representativeness of the population from which it is taken (Gilbert, 1997, Jennings 2001). In this study the researcher ensured that the sample chosen was as representative as possible of the desired population, so that conclusions become an accurate representation of how the larger group of people acts. The researcher used the random and purposive sampling techniques for choosing the 165 research participants for this study. This enabled the researcher to ensure that the sample chosen is the best to serve the researcher’s interests and stated goals.
1.9.3.1. Random sampling.
The researcher identified the target research participants of 165 University students from the Department of Music and Musicology, African Languages students from UZ and MSU and medical students from University of Zimbabwe were randomly selected to answer questionnaires meant to solicit data for the research study. The researcher used the class
18 register to randomly select student participants for this study, so as to eliminate all bias that may lead to selection of a population against others.
1.9.3.2. Purposive sampling
In this study, four lecturers in African Languages Department and four lecturers in Music and Musicology at the Midlands State University, four University of Zimbabwe lecturers in Medicine, and four University of Zimbabwe lecturers in African Languages were purposively sampled, since the research study requires experts in the field of language, culture, lexicography, medicine and music. Thus the researcher selected a population that met a particular criterion that satisfied the stated goals and aims of this research study.
1.9.4 Data gathering instruments
The whole process of preparing to collect data is called instrumentation. It involves the selection or design of the instruments and the procedure and the condition under which the instrument will be administered (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2003:119). It addresses the location of data collection, when it will be collected and the time of collection and how often the data is to be collected and who is to collect the data. The research method that is proposed in a study also implicitly determines the instruments to be used for data collection. The two commonly used instruments for data collection in qualitative research are the questionnaire and the interview. In this study, the interview and the questionnaires were employed in such a way that they complemented each other to give adequate and accurate information needed for the success of this study. The questionnaire allowed the researcher to convert data into information as offered by respondents. On the other hand, the researcher used the structured and unstructured interviews for the same groups of respondents to gain a more comprehensive picture of the research study. Use of varied instruments enabled the researcher to gather useful information from respondents to validate the findings of the study.
The questionnaire was then analysed quantitatively. Collected data was converted or organised into tables and graphs for analysis and discussions. Tuckman (1978) posit that results are triangulated to cross check the validating of data and the derived conclusion.
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