RESEARCH SETTING, POPULATION AND SAMPLING

This part of the chapter deals with the research setting, population and sampling. 4.3.1 The Research Setting

The settings of this research were chosen based on the researcher’s convenience. According to Bordens and Abbott (2011:120), as researchers decide on the design of the research, they also decide on the research setting. Among many factors, convenience, ethical considerations, and research questions affect the research site selection. Walford (2001:14) states that researchers choose their research site based on their convenience and access. In selecting a research setting, researchers have also to think about their time, financial costs, and distance, although this did not deter the researcher from collecting data. Although the sites were more than

1500 kilometres away from the researcher’s work place, the research was too important to deter him from travelling.

The study was conducted in Tigray Regional State. Though there are many secondary schools in the region, two schools namely School A and School B were selected from the capital city of the region which is Mekelle. The researcher had reasons for selecting the schools. Firstly, Tigray Regional State was selected for the reason that the researcher knew some of the causes for disability such as diseases, accidents, and malnourishment. Secondly, the schools were found near to the researcher’s birth place and the researcher had agood understanding of the setting of the schools and the community in general. Thirdly, the schools enrolled and taught visually-impaired learners together with sighted ones starting from Grade nine (9). Lastly, the schools were relatively better resourced than other schools not only in the city but also in the Regional State.

4.3.2 Research Population and Sampling

Lodico, et al. (2006:140) posit that researchers select their research participants based on the background of the participants and the researcher’s intended purpose. They further indicate that research participant selection is based on the nature of the research. According to Vanderstoep and Johnston (2009:26), a sample of research participants is selected from a larger population. Lodico, et al. (2006:140) state that the population is the larger target group about which “the researcher wants to make statements”. This research is a case study research. The participants of the research were chosen from two school cases. These selected schools were the only secondary schools in Mekelle city which admit Grade nine and Grade 10 visually- impaired learners. School A had a total population of 2645 learners. Out of this number, 916 learners were Grade nine and 1167 were grade 10 learners. Of these, 26 learners were visually-impaired but the school had no clear data on how many low vision learners it had admitted. In addition, the school had a total number of 76 teachers. Of this population, one school principal, 16 teachers and 12 learners participated in the research. School B had a total number of 2977 learners. Out of these, 552 were Grade nine and 794 were grade 10 learners. The school also had 25 visually-impaired learners but the school did not have a clear data on the number of its low vision learners. In addition, the school had 97 teachers. Of this population,

one school principal, 19 teachers and 12 learners were selected for participation in this research. Of the 12 visually-impaired learners, 10 of them were totally blind and two had low vision.

Cohen, Manion and Marrison (2000:92) state that the quality of research is dependent on the selection of a suitable sampling strategy. The sampling strategy used in this research was purposive sampling because the researcher wanted to know about the schools in depth and it was the best strategy to select suitable sample participants. According to Lodico, et al. (2006:140), the reason of using purposive sampling is the selection of information-rich participants. Lodico, et al. (2006:277) also state that a researcher selects participants that can give information to the questions asked. Furthermore, Neuman (2007:142) indicates that a researcher uses purposive sampling in selecting his/her research participants based on the objectives of the study. In relative terms, information-rich participants were selected for this study and the research was conducted in natural settings.

The reason for selecting school principals as participants was that they are the ones who are in the highest position at the schools and are believed to be responsible for the implementation of inclusive education in their schools. In addition, the principals were expected to have a better understanding of inclusive education and visual impairment as well. Teachers were selected because they were directly involved in the implementation of inclusive education and/or taught learners with abilities and disabilities. The learners were selected since they are the recipients of inclusive education.

The four teachers were selected purposefully based on their experience in teaching classrooms with visually-impaired learners. In addition to this, 40 teachers who taught different subjects to visually-impaired learners in their general classrooms were also selected purposefully because they were considered important in the study. First, the information they gave was multi-dimensional since the teachers had different educational and teaching backgrounds. Second, a good amount of quantitative data to triangulate and supplement the main qualitative data was collected. However, only 31 teachers returned the questionnaire. Twelve (12) visually-impaired and 12 sighted learners were also selected to take part. The criteria for selecting them were their experience, academic performance and participation in different activities in the

schools. The teacher and learner participants were from both sexes but the principals were all male.