Sampling Techniques and Sample Size 30

Being a qualitative inquiry, the study involved a small but rich sample. As in most qualitative inquiries, the emphasis was on the distribution of respondents and quality of data rather than on numbers. Therefore, the study involved a total number of 84 respondents drawn from and distributed within Nairobi County. This number was arrived at mainly because of other

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considerations which are explained below. 72 respondents were randomly sampled from lists of Churches for the CBS which is a form of Focus Group Discussion (FGDs). An effective CBS involves 10-12 people. Since six Churches had already been purposively sampled, the study involved 12 people for each Church making the total number of respondents for CBS to 72. These were mainly the ordinary Christians and within the understanding of the study, they did not possess any theological training.

It was necessary to conduct a CBS with this group because in postcolonial studies, this method gives the subaltern a chance to speak. Cluster sampling was applied to this number, so as to come up with clusters of women, men and youth groups, of four participants each.

The other 12 respondents (i.e. two from each of the six congregations) were purposively sampled for key informant interviews. These were leaders and clergy who were purposively sampled because they possessed some theological training. In fact, there was need to produce a sample that held specific view points, or particular judgements, in the view of the researcher. During the study, this group brought out very useful insights on impunity and Mark studies that enriched the study. Chapter four highlights these insights and how they enriched the study.

It must be noted that during the study, there was a challenge in convening the selected people. It was noted that many could not be available for the study during the specified times. Several meetings were rescheduled with the result that the study took longer than expected (i.e. two more months).

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This challenge did not affect the collected data because the dependent variable did not change during that time.

As has been mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the following churches were purposively sampled: Holy Family Basilica (in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), Kariokor Methodist Church (Kariokor), African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA, Kangemi), Anglican Church of Kenya, All Saints Cathedral (CBD), Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC Karen), and International Christian Church (ICC Mombasa Road). Although purposive sampling introduced some level of bias, the researcher noted that it enriched the data for it enabled adequate represent- ability, in terms of social class groupings in Nairobi, and also that the divides of Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal and AICs were captured. In the AICs cluster, AIPCA was particularly chosen for the resistance it offered to the early missionaries and the Bible in the early 1920s and 1930s.

1.4.3.1 Research Instruments

Three methods of data collection were applied for this study, using the following modes: Key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in the manner of Contextual Bible Study (CBS), and library research. FGDs were held in the form of Contextual Bible Study (CBS). Contextual Bible Study is a form of Focus Group Discussion. The main difference is that CBS exclusively deals with the study of the Bible and particular issues that emerge in a given context.

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It was designed that key informant interviews would be carried out on the same days that the CBS took place. However, and as has been pointed out, this was not possible rescheduling of participants. Separate times were sought for the key informant interviews. These interviews happened at the convenience of the interviewees. All participants were convened in advance and interview guides were administered to sampled key informants. A study guide was prepared and administered to the sampled CBS participants. Both the interview guide and the CBS guide were developed in line with the study’s objectives.

It was stimulating to study the Bible in a CBS mode; the participants were eager and contributed freely. Sometimes the study took longer than expected because the participants asked background questions that were not initially raised in the study guide or in the pre-testing. Some of these questions challenged the researcher, but provided useful insights into how further studies can be conducted. Chapter four explains further how the study progressed and chapter six incorporates some of these insights in the proposals for future studies.

1.4.3.2 Pre-testing

For pre-testing purposes, the study applied a sample of the research instruments and portions of Mark 1:21-28 to a Bible Study Group at St. Peter’s Methodist Church, in Langata. To ensure that the instrument was fine tuned before the actual study, the study asked the respondents the same questions and conducted the same activity as in actual data collection. This helped

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minimize the possibility of error in producing the intended result. Because pretesting was done in advance, during the actual study, it was noticed that the researcher and the assistant were comfortable in applying it to other groups. Pretesting did not mean that more emerging issues were taken care of; in fact in the actual study, there were more emerging issues and they were handled as they came.

1.4.3.3 Validity and Reliability

Issues of validity before the actual study helped answer the question of the information collection methods. The method of data collection for this study assured that the study measured what it claimed to be measuring. To satisfy this criterion, this study ensured that the information collected was relevant to the study objectives and the research questions as has been shown in chapter four.

Reliability, for any study, ensures that the research process does consistently measure what it is out to measure. To this end, the study ensured that the designed instruments helped the researcher to interpret the questions the same way each time. The same information was sought for more than once. Content validity was enhanced by ensuring that measures cover the range of meanings, included in the concepts that have been applied.