CHAPTER 4: Research Design and Methodology
4.5 Study Population, Sample and Sample Selection
4.5.3 Study Sample and Sample Size
In this study, nonprobability sampling technique was employed. A multi-stage sampling procedure, which involved cluster sampling, purposive and then snowballing techniques was used for the selection of study participants. In the first instance of a multi-stage sampling, FM broadcast stations were considered as the primary sampling units (PSU). Broadcast journalists were located within the PSU as the secondary sampling units (SSU), as a quota of other media workers in the FM stations, hence quota sampling technique. Thereafter, participants were then purposively drawn from the SSU as representative samples of the target population. Lastly, snowballing technique was used to include consented participants.
One sheer attribute of the multi-stage sampling is that it is possible to reach final study units using hierarchy of stages. However, while these sampling techniques may limit the study’s generalisability as a quantitative empirical study, it also holds the prospect of yielding participants that are representative of the study population. This is due to its strict adherence to selection of samples which fall within the sampling frame and description.
The choice of nonprobability was informed by four crucial contextual characteristics of Nigerian broadcast media landscape. First, there was the initial problem of locating appropriate sampling frame in the existing studies focusing broadcast journalists in Nigeria. Quite a few published studies employed survey method. And where numeric survey data were utilised, the techniques were either convenience or purposive sampling or a combination of both and snowballing (e.g. Olley, 2009). In addition to this is also the difficulty of assessing a comprehensive list from which broadcast journalists can be easily drawn for a probability/systematic sampling. Nigerian journalists operate as amorphous and amphibious professionals; working almost independently and off premises except only when editorial roles are involved. This makes it very difficult to get hold of journalists as subjects of empirical research. On many occasions, journalists are restless and difficult to persuade for research. In Nigeria, a number of them operate from newsrooms lobby, staff common rooms and shared official spaces. Another peculiar characteristic which informs sample recruitment comes in the form of “network broadcasting”, where a media establishment has more than one FM radio stations operating across the region under investigation. Decision would have to be made on which of these stations’ journalists would be recruited and snowballing techniques proof quite useful in this regard.
In the light of the aforementioned circumstances, having journalists to complete questionnaires requires consistent personal appeal and persuasive attention of senior colleagues, even after official permission has been sought through introduction letter. In order
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to fulfil the procedure of sample selection in the light of nonprobability sampling, first, grouping the operational FM stations according to primary state of broadcasting was conducted. The researcher worked with the most current list of FM stations is southwest Nigeria retrievable on the Internet. Table 5.1 presents a complete list of licensed FM radio stations operating in southwest Nigeria.
State Name of Station/Band Type (Tier of Broadcasting
Lagos
88.9 - Brilla FM – Sports Private
89.7 - Eko FM, Ikeja Public
90.9 - Top Radio FM Private
92.3 - Inspiration FM - Private
92.9 - Bond FM Private
93.7 - Rhythm FM Private
95.1 - Wazobia FM Private
95.7 - LASU Radio (Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos) Community/Educational
96.1 - Traffic radio Private
96.3 - Urban Radio FM, Lagos Private
96.9 - Cool FM Private
97.3 - Classic FM Private
97.7 - Metro FM – FRCN Public
98.1 - SMOOTH FM, Lagos Private
99.3 - Nigeria Info FM Private
99.9 - The Beat FM, Ikoyi Lagos Private
100.5 - RayPower FM, Alagbado Private
101.5 - Star FM, Ikeja Private
102.3 - Radio Continental, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos Private
102.7 - Naija FM Private
103.1 - Unilag FM (University of Lagos) Private
103.5 – Choice FM now Radio One – FRCN Public
105.1 – City FM, Oregun, Lagos Private
105.9 – NOUN FM (National Open University of Nigeria) Victoria Island Community/Educational
106.5 - Faaji FM (Also of Raypower FM) Private
107.5 - Radio Lagos, Ikeja (Also of Eko FM) Public
N = 26
Oyo
90.1 - Space FM, 136, Liberty Road, Ibadan Private
91.5 - Star FM, Secretariat, Ibadan Private
92.1 - Ajilete FM, Gambari, Ogbomoso Public
92.5 - Impact Business Radio, Akobo, Ibadan (Nigeria's first Business Radio) Private
93.5 - Premier FM (FRCN), Dugbe, Ibadan Public
95.1 - Raypower FM, Cocoa House Dugbe Ibadan Private
96.3 - Oke-Ogun FM, Alaga Public
96.3 - Lagelu FM ( also of Splash FM) Private
97.9 - Beat FM, Bodija, Ibadan Private
98.0 - Parrot FM, Ogbomosho Private
98.5 - Oluyole FM, Old Ife Road, Ibadan Public
99.1 - Amuludun FM, Moniya, Ibadan Public
101.1 - Diamond FM, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Community/Educational
105.5 - Splash FM, Felele, Ibadan Private
100.5 - Inspiration FM Private
102.3 - Petals FM, Old Bodija, Ibadan Private
102.7 - Naija FM, Bodija, (Also of Beat FM) Private
105.9 - Fresh FM, Ibadan
N = 18
89.1 - Hope FM (Babcock University Radio station, Ilisan-Remo) Community/Educational
94.1 - Rainbow FM Private
94.5 - Paramount FM, FRCN, Abeokuta Private
101.9 - Rockcity FM, Abeokuta 90.5 - OGBC FM, Abeokuta
95.9 - Hebron FM (Covenant University Radio Station, Ota) Community/Educational 91.7 - Women FM (first Women's Radio Station) Arepo, Isheri, Ogun State Private
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Ogun 106.7 - S.M.A FM, IJAGUN-IKOFA Community/Educational
88.5 - Family FM (Orile- Ilugun) Private
N = 9
Osun
89.5 - Orisun FM, Ile Ife Private
91.7 - Rave FM, Oroki Estate, Osogbo Private
94.5 - Great FM, Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU Ile-Ife) Private
95.1 - Raypower FM, Oke Pupa, Osogbo Private
96.3 - Radio Osun FM, Sky Limit area, Iwo. Private
99.7 - Oodua FM, Toll Gate, Ile-Ife (Ready for Transmission) Private
101.5 - Crown FM, Eleyele, Ile Ife Private
103.1 - Uniq FM, Ara Station, Okesa, Ilesa Private
104.5 - Living Spring FM, Ile-Awiye Oke Baale Osogbo. Public
N = 9
Ondo
88.9 - Adaba FM - Urban and blended Yoruba music Private
91.9 - Breeze FM - Urban music Private
93.1 - FUTA FM (Federal University of Technology, Akure) Community/Educational
96.5 - OSRC FM - Local MUSIC Public
102.5 - Positive FM (FRCN), Akure - Blend of old/new school Public
94.5 - Orange FM, Akure Ondo State. Private
96.1 - Raypower FM, Oba-ile, Akure, Ondo State. Private
100.9-. Eki FM Ondo city Private
N = 8
Ekiti
100.5 - Progress FM (FRCN), Ado Ekiti Public
91.5FM - Golden Voice of Ekiti (BSES) Public
N = 10
Table 4.1: List of FM radio station operating in the southwest zone of Nigeria
The process used a list of FM radio stations broadcasting in the southwest region of Nigeria (Table 1). Hence, FM radio stations founded by private and public (including community/campus) ownerships across southwest Nigeria’s urban landscape served as the units of analysis for this study. In all, sixty-one (61) licensed and functional FM radio stations were named and listed. Lagos State has the highest number of FM radio stations with 26 identifiable FM bands and which also enjoy active listenership in the State. Second on the list is Oyo State with 22 identifiable FM bands and active listenership mainly in the capital city of Ibadan. Ogun State and Osun State have a combination of 18 FM radio stations with identifiable bands. Ondo and Ekiti States with lesser representation of FM radio stations were, however, not included in the final sampling frame. Their omission is deliberate primarily because of the sameness in the structure and operations of these radio stations and the repeat transmission of programmes by private radio stations which, because of increased profit, are operating a network of FM radio stations in Nigeria states to circumvent the low coverage of FM transmission. Hence, excluding these inter-land southwest States does not significantly affect the research objectives; although it may affect the sample size. To compensate for the loss, the researcher sought to increase the sample size in the other 4 States where responses were higher. It also assisted the researcher to work within the timeframe and financial budget
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for the study. The similarity in structure and operations of radio stations in the region is equally attested to by the chain of radio stations spreading from Lagos to other parts of the region and beyond.
States/Locations Radio Station/Band Type/Tiers of
Broadcasting
Lagos
95.1 - Wazobia FM Private
96.9 - Cool FM Private
102.7 - Naija FM Private
103.1 - Unilag FM (University of Lagos) Community/Educational
89.7 - Eko FM, Ikeja Public
107.5 - Radio Lagos, Ikeja (Also of Eko FM) Public
Oyo
90.1 - Space FM, 136, Liberty Road, Ibadan Private 91.5 - Star FM, Secretariat, Ibadan Private 92.5 - Impact Business Radio, Akobo, Ibadan (Nigeria's first
Business Radio)
Private 93.5 - Premier FM (FRCN), Dugbe, Ibadan Public 96.3 - Lagelu FM ( also of Splash FM)
98.5 - Oluyole FM, Old Ife Road, Ibadan Public
101.1 - Diamond FM, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Community/Educational 105.5 - Splash FM, Felele, Ibadan Private
105.9 - Fresh FM, Ibadan Private
Ogun 101.9 - Rockcity FM, Abeokuta Private
90.5 - OGBC FM, Abeokuta Public
Osun 104.5 - Living Spring FM, Ile-Awiye Oke Baale Osogbo. Public
Table 4.2: Showing the 18 southwest Nigerian FM radio stations from which samples were drawn (Public 6, Private 9, Community 2)
For instance, Ondo State has 8 FM radio stations of which one of these stations is an extension of a Lagos-based network of broadcasting station (that is Raypower FM). This same radio station also transmits in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Ekiti State has 2 radio stations. At the start of the study in May 8, 2016 a printed letter of research intention authorized by the University Research Ethics Committee was taken to selected stations in each of the state forming my sample stratum. For effective administration and management of resources (time and cost of research), a research assistant was appointed and trained to collect data in Lagos State, while the principal researcher faced the remaining 3 States: Oyo, Ogun and Osun. Of the 16 FM radio stations written to in Lagos only four (5) gave consent and proved accessible after two weeks of waiting and reminder visits. In Oyo State, six (7) FM radio stations: Splash and Lagelu FM stations, Star FM, Space FM, Oluyole FM, Fresh FM, Impact Business Radio and Diamond FM gave their consent and cooperated with the researcher. It is also worthy of note that 2 network stations belong originally to Lagos based media firms (Star FM and Space FM) were sampled in Oyo State. Consent could not be sought from other radio stations in the State.
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Apart from network stations phenomenon common with privately-owned radio stations, the state broadcasting corporation and the federal government’s Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria equally own network radio stations, with similar broadcast pattern and programming and sometimes staff. For example in Ibadan, Oyo State, there is the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State with 3 network FM stations (Ajilete, Oke-Ogun and Amuludun) while Premier FM owned by the federal government Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) extends its zonal coordination to Ogun State and Paramount FM. In Ogun Sate, two (2) radio stations: the state owned OGBC FM and Rock City FM (private) offered their assistance and responded favourably. The researcher also received warm reception at the state-owned station in Osun State (OSBC FM). With this attributes in mind, the researcher worked fairly against the imminent coverage and sampling error by replacing unresponsive stations with responsive ones, since the stations only served as the study’s units of analysis and not the actual subject of research. In all, one-hundred and forty-nine (149) radio broadcast journalists were reached through a total of 18 FM radio stations sampled across the selected 4 southwest Nigerian states.