The target population from the two institutions included all the lecturers, the IT Support Staff, the Top management which comprised of the board members, directors and the centre coordinators of the e-learning programme. The last target population set was the distance learners excluding the first year students. This deliberate effort was made because such students may not have the experience in using the e-learning. Table 3.2 shows the numeric breakdown of the target population.
Table 3.2
Distribution of Target Population at CCE and ODeL
Institutions Distance learners
Lecturers ITSS Top
management
Total
CCE 33,000 2000 36 38 35,074
ODeL 2,163 439 32 20 2.654
Total 35,163 2,439 68 58 37,728
Source: (ODeL 2011 and CCE 2011)
Table 3.2 shows that the target population of the study is 37,728. These target populations were chosen because the success or failure of an e-learning
programme ought to be of prime concern to them. Based on the objectives of the study, it was believed that any conclusion drawn on the bases of the data collected from them would reflect the nature and profile of e-learning adoption and utilisation in Ghana and Kenya.
3.4.1 Sampling Techniques 3.4.1.1 Quota Sampling
Quota sampling is the process of deciding beforehand the type and number of members that a researcher intends sampling (Biggam, 2008). Quota sampling technique was applied to determine the regions / county from which the study centres were to be selected.
3.4.1.2 Stratified Sampling
A stratified sampling technique, according to Biggam, (2008), is made up of a group from which a researcher directly selects samples. As used in this study, the technique was used to obtain the specific study centre from each region/county. The sample size of the distance learners were selected from each of the aforementioned Centres/Counties.
The quota and stratified sampling techniques were used with the intention of ensuring that every region/county, study centre and distance learner at each study centres of the two institutions had an equal and calculable opportunity of being selected for the study. This improved the representativeness of the sample by reducing sampling error. According to Asher (1995), stratified
sampling technique is said to be very reliable with a high degree of representativeness of results.
3.4.1.3 Simple Random Sampling
Biggam (2008) described simple random sampling as a subset of a target population in which each member of the subset has an equal probability of being chosen. In this study, a simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of the distance learners and the lecturers. The reason was that these groups are homogeneous in nature, and it was assumed that any sample drawn from the accessible population would be acceptable enough to fairly represent a cross section of the target population at the two institutions, thereby minimizing a type-1 error.
In the case of the top management and ITSS, purposive sampling technique was employed. Unlike simple random sampling techniques, where respondents are viewed essentially as interchangeable, purposive sampling technique involves targeting respondents who have the relevant experience and information that are not necessarily similar. Patton (2002) asserted that purposive sampling is a non-random method of sampling where the researcher selects information-rich cases for study in depth. Purposive sampling takes place when the researcher selects a sample from which the most can be learned (Merriam 1998).
Based on the nature of the research objectives, the top management and ITSS fit into this technique and, therefore, advanced better understanding of the study.
3.4.2 Sample Size
A sample is a subset selected from the accessible population and should be a representative of the actual population. Gay (1983) suggested a minimum sample size of 10% for a large population and 20% for small population. Conguring with Gay, Amedahe (2002) noted that a sample size between ten (10) to twenty (20) per cent is generally ideal enough for any descriptive study. On the other hand, Ferguson (1979) proposed that when grouping for inferential statistical comparisons, each group should exceed thirty (30) subjects.
Considering the experts‘ view coupled with the nature of the accessible population, a proportional ten per cent (10%) sample size was used on distance learners and twenty per cent (20%) for lecturers at both institutions. In the case of ITSS, the respondents consisted of 68 participants from the two institutions. More so, a census of 20 and 38 top managements from ODeL and CCE respectively were used for the study. A census was necessary in this situation because of the numerical paucity of the target groups. In total, a sample size of 758 participants was covered in this study and was considered acceptable. Tables 3.3 through to Table 3.7 provide a breakdown of the sample sizes with respect to the accessible group.
Table 3.3
Distribution of Target Population and Strata Sample Size for the Distance Learners (ODeL)
Source: ODeL, 2011
Table 3.3 shows eight (8) study centres of ODeL with a total target population of 2,163 with the sample size of 220 (10%) which is a composition of the various strata from the respective study centres.
Table 3.4 shows the distribution of target and accessible population as well as strata sample size for the distance learners at CCE.
Table 3.4
Target Population and Strata Sample Size for the Distance Learners (CCE)
Source: (CCE, 2011)
Study Centres Accessible Population Distance Learners Sample Size Nairobi 822 84 Mombasa 239 24 Nakuru 217 22 Garissa 80 8 Kisumu 216 21 Kakamega 144 15 Embu 261 27 Nyeri 184 19 Total 2,163 220
Study Centres Target
Population Accessible Population Sample Size Cape Coast 2727 211 21 Accra 4857 380 38 Ho 2601 198 20 Sunyani 3114 240 24 Takoradi 3510 254 25 Kumasi 5010 380 38 Bolgatanga 2565 190 19 Koforidua 3891 297 30 Tamale 2808 220 22 Wa 1917 150 15 TOTAL 33,000 2,520 252
Table 3.4 depicts the total accessible population of CCE students as 2,520 out of which a ten (10%) sample size, constituting 252 respondents, was generated.
Table 3.5
Distribution of Sample Size of Lecturers (ODeL and CCE)
Lecturers Target Population Accessible Population Sample Size ODeL 439 439 88 CCE 2000 360 72 Total 2,439 799 160
Source (CCE, 2011 and ODeL, 2011)
Table 3.5 shows the total target population as 2,439. This constitutes lecturers from the relevant Schools and Departments from both universities engaged by ODeL and CCE to teach distance learners. The accessible population (799) is therefore made up of the lecturers who use the e-learning platform to teach distance learners out of which a sample size of 160 lecturers representing twenty per cent (20%) responded to the questionnaire.
Table 3.6
Distribution of Sample Size for Top Management
Top management ODeL CCE Total
Board members 9 23 32
Directors 3 5 8
Coordinators 8 10 18
Total 20 38 58
(Source: CCE 2011, and ODeL, 2011)
Table 3.6 shows the total sample size of top management at both institutions as 58.
Table 3.7
Distribution of Sample Size for ITSS
ITSS Target Population Sample Size
ODeL 32 32
CCE 36 36
Total 68 68
(Source: CCE, 2011 and ODeL, 2011)
Table 3.7 depicts the total sample size for ITSS for ODeL and CCE as 68 which is 100 % of the target population. The entire target population was studied because of the relatively small size of the target population.
3.5 Construction of Research Instruments