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CHAPTER SEVEN

TYPE OF STUDY

7.15 Target Population

Babbie and Mouton (2001:232) propose two reasons in favours of the survey research method. The first is survey research, which they claim is the best method available to social scientists interested in collecting original data to describe a population that is measure attitudes and orientation in the large population or sample composition. The second is that the survey method helps to obtain a better representation of the population; a good number within the sample is required to allow for less sampling errors (Roberts, 2004:135). Determination and description of the population to be studied is the first step in the implementation of the research design. Population is defined differently in the research literature and in Statistics in general. Mason and Lind (1996:8) define the population as a collection of all possible individuals, objects, or measurements of interest. This is the aggregate of all the elements with the same characteristics which together comprise the universe for which relationships are to be drawn. It is common in the majority of the research not to include the entire population in the study, particularly where the population is large.

African sample was accessed from Cape Town and Johannesburg and the Gabonese sample from Libreville and Port-gentil. In other to obtain the largest possible sample, social network and hand-over questionnaire was the strategy used for the study. As such the use of the sampling technique leads to the possibility of clear definition of the sampling frame. The area and extent of the spread of the population was deliberately allowed; a wide spread to provide reliable information on the development of entrepreneurship and the role the government and support structures were playing. The population in the respective countries was understood in terms of the different types of entrepreneurs, business men and women, their diverse nature (race, gender and level of education). The researcher considered the population under study to be appropriate for the purposes of this research considering the research design that was chosen.

7.16 Sampling

A sample is a small representative portion of the whole population which is studied to make inferences on the whole population. Unlike the census, sampling takes and studies a small portion of the population and make conclusions or generalisations based on observations from the sample. Furthermore, to the conclusion or findings, beyond that of the sample, need to be made cautiously as findings might not have been found to the extent beyond the specific sample: To establish what role the government plays, and what policies and support structures they have established in assisting entrepreneurial activities in South Africa and Gabon, in the following areas: obtaining financial aids, assistance in getting information, policies and regulation in place to guide entrepreneurship start -up the 300 questionnaires were handed to entrepreneurs in South Africa and Gabon, 150 each respectively. The geographical areas were in South Africa: Cape Town Metropolitan, Cape Flats, Khayelitsha, Johannesburg and Libreville and Port-Gentil the political and economic capital of Gabon.

Curtis and Drennan (2013: 131). The study sample comprise of three hundred (300) participants from different sectors. Entrepreneurs were engaged to participate in the survey within the geographical areas Cape Town, Johannesburg, Libreville and Port Gentil. Probability and non probability sampling tools are used in the research study. The probability sampling tool ensure every number of the sample has the same chances of being chosen contrary to non probability sampling where there is a higher percentage of a portion of the sampling population being chosen even though it is

unknown, more than others (Galloway,1997:1). Generally, five significant types of sampling tools are at hand. This are listed as

1. Multistage cluster sampling 2. Stratified sampling

3. Random route sampling 4. Systematic sampling 5. Random sampling

Each of the above can be chosen in the research base on the route you map your study. The researcher chose utilized random probability tool to conduct the study. The researcher categorized the sample based on their experience knowledge and background in business. The research identified its sampling frame (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Libreville and Port-Gentil) and opted for simple sampling as it proved to be a convenient tool for the research study.

The chosen districts were commercial centers where there are higher concentration of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

A sampling method was used to select entrepreneurs that are most affect by government policies. This was done to give the most disadvantaged survivalist entrepreneurs an opportunity to express the affect of entrepreneurship policies on their growth. We sample for many reasons, some of which are: to limit the destructive nature of certain tests. It may be physically impossible to study every item in the population as the cost may be prohibitive. It may take too much time before the results are known (Mason and Lind, 1996:296). However, a correctly chosen representative sample will adequately provide the necessary information for the purposes of decision making. Churchill Jr (1995:575) proposed that sampling passes through six steps: definition of the population, identifying the sampling frame, selecting a sampling procedure, determining the sample size, selecting the sample elements, and collecting the data from the designated elements. The steps are illustrated below:

Figure 7.3 the six-step procedure for drawing a sample

(Source: Adapted from Churchill & Lacobucci 2002:449)

Step 1: define the population - the population was defined as all entrepreneurs and