CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 Overview

This aspect of the research describes the procedure and method used to gather data for the topic

under study. It consists of the following sub-heading; the research design, population, sample and

sampling procedure, data analysis and intervention procedures.

3.1 Research Design

The design used is action research design. Action research is the study of social situation or

problem with a view of improving the quality of action within it (Elluot 2014). Also, action

research is a form of self-reflective enquiry that is used in school-based curriculum development,

professional development, school improvement schemes and activities that involves teachers as

participant in their own educational process (Menif 2011). The choice of the design is influenced

by its simplicity. This means that the design is very simple to use. It is easier to be carried out as

compared to other designs.

Also, action research is participatory in that, it involves the teachers in its inquiry. It is collaborative

because it involves other people as part of the shared inquiry as it includes pupils, teachers and

parents as well. The values of the action research allow both the researcher and the pupil to learn

experientially about the research process by being there and doing it instead of being told how to

do it.

Then again, action research involves solving a classroom problem or a local school problem

through the application of scientific method. However, action research has some weaknesses. One

of which is that it does not cover a very large population. The extent of coverage is very limited
and as such may not give the true reflection of the analysis. Also, the results of action research are

not usually generalized because they are based on a particular locality.

3.2 Population

According to Polit (2014), population is “the entire aggregation of cases that meet a designated set

of criteria”. The target population of this study is pupils Debiso D/A JHS C. The accessible

population is the pupils of basic 8 class.

3.3 Sample and sampling procedure

The total sample size for the research was 50 participants comprising 20 pupils (girls), 20 teachers

and 5 parents from the community and 5 teachers. The researcher used the probability sampling

technique for pupils and teachers especially, simple random sampling technique. The reason for

the use of this technique is that, every individual in the population will be selected based on equal

and independent chance.

However, the weakness of this technique is that, it involves strict probability rules which consume

a lot of time. Based on the parents, non-probability sampling technique was used which is also

referred to as purposive sampling. In this sampling technique, the nearest individual available

serves as a respondent. The reason for using this sampling technique is that, it is quick and saves

time and also easy in getting the respondents for the study. However, it has its weakness which is,

the number may be great if care is not taken.

3.4 Research Instruments

The instruments used in collecting data for the study are interview and questionnaire.

3.4.1 Interview

Interview was the first instrument the researcher used in the data collection process. This was in

the form of a structured interview where he used some of the items processed. The number of
respondents for the interview was 30. This included 20 pupils and 10 parents. She used this

instrument due to its high response rate in getting information related to the problem. The

advantages of the interview method were its flexibility to meet any change of situation. It is also

relatively easy to respond to since one does not need to be able to read and write. However,

interviews are criticized based on the following reasons;

1. Interview can sometimes be less effective especially when dealing with sensitive issues.

2. It offers less anonymity.

3. Finally, interview is costlier and time consuming unlike other methods like questionnaires

Sample of the interview guide is at appendix

3.4.2 Questionnaire

Another technique used in collecting information was obtained from teachers on the situation was

the use of questionnaires. The reason for the choice of this particular instrument was;

It can be completed at the respondents’ convenience. It also ensures uniformity in question. That

is, every respondent received the same questioning. The researcher prepared a set of questions

himself and the distribution was also carried by him. However, it has weaknesses too, that is, to

say that it is very expensive since some materials are needed for its preparation. Questionnaire

sample can be found in appendix B.

3.5 Interventions

It is a set of strategies the researcher planned and implemented to solve the problem. It involves a

step-by-step procedure which is constantly monitored over a period of time and by a variety of

mechanisms. These strategies include the use of teaching and learning materials during lessons,

given positive re-information and motivation to learners from their performances. The process

includes pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention.

To actually portray the causes of low performance of Debiso D/A Junior High School C basic 8,

the researcher decided to look through the cumulative records of the form, which actually indicated

that, the pupils were really poor in the subject as compared to the other subjects.

3.7 Intervention

Having identified that the basic 8 pupils of Debiso D/A Junior High School C performed poorly in

social studies especially when it comes to personal hygiene as a topic, some measures were put in

place to correct the problem and improve upon their ability to work. Some of which included the

following;

Firstly, the researcher realized with other teachers in the classroom to give much needed attention

to the class when it is time social studies lessons.

Secondly, he used motivation as reinforcement to the pupils in their learning of personal hygiene

in social studies in the classroom, so that they will always be interested to learn the subject and

also be encouraged in social studies lessons.

In addition, the researcher visited some parents with the assistance of an interpreter to have a word

concerning pupils’ academic performance. The parents were advised to relieve the pupils’ pressure

at home and try to encourage them to self - studies in the house.

Finally, teachers were advised to make social studies lessons activity based and practically oriented

by the use of available teaching and learning materials to assist pupils develop interest in the

subject.

3.8 Post-Intervention

With the use of demonstration and improvised teaching and learning materials, the researcher

observed that there were changes in the performance of the pupils in the subject. Also, due to the
advice given to parents to reduce the work load on pupils at home, this problem reduced because

he observed and realized it in the regular visits she made at some selected pupils’ homes.

Finally, pupils contributed a lot in the classroom discussion in social studies because their

confidence level in the subject was improved, hence their active participation in social studies

lesson.

3.9 Data Collection Procedure

The technique employed in data collection of every research is a major factor in the validity and

reliability of the work. It is against this background that the researcher decided to use interview

and questionnaires. The interview was designed in a form of questions which was used to obtain

responses from pupils and parents. On the part of the pupil, the researcher interviewed them

himself using two days to obtain information.

And on the part of the parents, the researcher interviewed them one after the other in their various

homes with the assistance of an interpreter who translated everything to the researcher for

recording. It was conducted on the same day the pupils were interviewed and all responses obtained

from both pupils and parents were recorded in a diary by the researcher.

The researcher also administered questionnaires to obtain more information. In the use of the

questionnaire, he distributed the questionnaires to some teachers of Debiso D/A Junior High

School C and retrieved them the next day after school.

3.10 Data Analysis

The researcher used frequency distribution table in analyzing the data collected as well as sample

percentages.