3.3
Purposive sampling
Bailey (1978) explains purposive sampling technique as a
technique whereby the researcher uses her own judgment about which respondents
to choose and picks only those who can best meet the purposes of the study. Researcher used this technique by selecting
respondents with relevant information who have e-procurement in their daily
activities.
3. 4
Data collection methods and instruments
The information from the primary data were obtained through a
structured questionnaire and an interview schedule and documentary search was
applied as to obtain secondary data.
3.4.1 Questionnaire
Kenneth D. Bailey (1987: 93) defines questionnaire as a list
of questions generally mailed or handed to the respondents and filled in by her
with no help to the interviewer. The questionnaire contained both open and
closed ended questions were addressed to the respondents. With open-ended
questions were kept to the minimum so as to enable the respondents to focus on
aspect of the research. With open -ended questions, the respondents had to
give personal responses or opinions in their own words whereas with close-ended
questions, respondents were given different alternatives to choose from.
According to Kendall (1992:135), a questionnaire is
information guttering technique that gathers information about; attitudes,
beliefs, behaviors and characteristics from several respondents in the
institution, who may be affected by a given phenomenon or system.
The whole process of distributing copies of the questionnaire
was as follows: the researcher first contacted the Director General of Kabaya
District Hospital about the issue before the process started. At this stage,
researcher gave the Director General a pre-test questionnaire to fill. This
helped researcher to test the understandability of the respondents in relation
to questions asked. By the help of pre-tests, the researcher was able to
identify the gaps in the questionnaire and made corrections where necessary.
After the pre-test copies of the questionnaire were collected
and necessary corrections made, copies of the questionnaire were distributed
among the respondents for filling. The questionnaire distribution protocol in
the Hospital was organized in a way that facilitated the process of collecting
them.
Here the researcher deliberately selected few of the staff
members only from the Hospital and some of the suppliers; to whom the copies of
the questionnaire were given for both distribution and collection after having
been filled out. In a few cases, the researcher had to be personally present to
help the respondentsto complete questions.
The advantages of close- ended questions are that the answers
are standard, and can be compared from person to person. Therefore, are much
easier to code and analyze; and often can be coded from the questionnaire,
saving time and money. Further, the respondent was often clear about the
meaning of the question and could often tell the answer for what was
demanded.
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