Methodology of the Study
Methodology of the Study
Reliability is tested using a test-retest method, where the instrument is administered twice to a group of 20 individuals not included in the main study, with a two-week interval between tests. The data from both administrations are compared using Pearson Product Moment Correlation, and a correlation coefficient of 0.7 or above is considered acceptable, indicating the instrument’s reliability .
The simple random sampling technique enhances reliability by ensuring that each of the 15 faculties has an equal chance of selection, minimizing selection bias. By involving 5 faculties and selecting 20 respondents per faculty, the sampling method ensures a representative sample reflecting diverse student views and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination .
The validity of the research instrument is ensured through face and content validity. Draft copies are reviewed by the project supervisor and two experts in the Department of Health Safety and Environmental Education, and their feedback is used to finalize the instrument, ensuring it accurately solicits information related to the research questions on COVID-19 vaccination attitudes among students .
The descriptive survey research design is suitable as it enables the collection and analysis of data reflecting the natural opinions of the University of Benin students concerning COVID-19 vaccination, without manipulating the study environment. This aligns with the study's aim of explaining the characteristic features and facts about the population, specifically regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards vaccination .
Direct administration allows the researcher to clarify any doubts immediately, ensures higher response rates, and reduces misunderstanding of questions. This is particularly important in sensitive topics like vaccination beliefs, where direct interaction can provide context and enhance the accuracy of responses .
Expert involvement in the validation process ensures that the research instrument is comprehensive, clear, and relevant, addressing the key aspects of COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Their feedback helps eliminate ambiguous or irrelevant items, thus enhancing the instrument's validity and the credibility of the research findings .
A sample size of 100 respondents provides a balanced approach to obtaining a significant amount of data, allowing for adequate representation from the various faculties while being manageable in terms of data collection and analysis. This size helps in identifying trends and patterns in vaccination behaviors among students without being overly complex or overwhelming for analysis .
Research assistants aid in the direct administration of the survey instrument to students, ensuring coverage and effective communication. Their involvement is critical because they help manage logistics, address respondents' questions, and facilitate a more efficient and error-free data collection process, thereby improving data quality and reliability .
Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation, are used to analyze the survey data on students' attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination. These methods are appropriate as they provide a clear summary of the respondents’ opinions and behaviors in numeric form, facilitating the understanding and visualization of data trends. Chi-square tests are applied to test hypotheses, offering insights into relationships between variables .
Self-structured questionnaires offer flexibility in tailoring questions specifically related to the research objectives and participants' context, which can lead to more relevant and detailed responses concerning student vaccination attitudes. However, they may also introduce bias if questions are not well-structured or validated properly, potentially impacting the study's accuracy and generalizability .