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This essay describes the research techniques to be applied, instruments and methods to be used, to validate the study objectives. It describes the area of study, the research design, the target population, the sample size, the sampling procedure, methods of data collection, validity and reliability, and method of data analysis.
The study was focused on Moi University Eldoret west campus, turbo sub-county, Uasin Gishu County.
This study was geared towards the causes of examination cheating and their remedies at Moi university. The research design for this study was a descriptive survey method. This method was chosen because it allows data collection from a large sample. This determines and reports the way things are; such as public opinions or attitudes. Descriptive research studies are designed to obtain precise information concerning the current status of phenomena and whenever possible to draw valid general conclusions from facts discovered (Lokesh 1984). The methods are non-experimental for they deal with relationships among non-manipulated variables. Since the event or conditions have already occurred or exist the researcher merely selects relevant variables for analysis of their relationship (Best and Kan 1998). This is a descriptive study of the current situation within Moi University's West Campus as regards cheating behavior in examinations.
Bong and Gall (1996) define a sample as a small proportion of a target population selected for analysis. According to Mugenda and Mugenda 2003, the sample must be as representative as possible of the population from which it is drawn. The optimum sample size is directly related to the type of research you are undertaking. The sample must be large enough to represent the characteristics of the accessible population. The target population was third-year students from Moi University's West Campus. There was a student population of 4200 (2200 girls and 2000 boys) and a lecturer population of 32.
A purposive Random sampling technique was used to select the schools based on the type of school. The sample schools were selected using the criteria; school of business boys, and girls, school of education boys and girls, and school of social arts boys and girls.
Table 3.2 students' enrolment and number of lecturers in different schools at Moi University. The student's and lecturer`s samples were drawn from selected faculties on the Moi university west campus. From each school, a random sample of three schools was selected, the school of Business, the school of Education, and the school of social Arts and Science. From each sample school, a random sample of thirteen or fourteen students was made to make a total of respondents per school. A random sample of eight lecturers was made from each sample school. A total of two hundred and forty were used in the study.
The sample is a part of the target population that has been procedurally selected to represent it. Sampling is the process of selecting several individuals or objects from a population, such that the selected group contains elements representative of characteristics found in the entire group (Orodho and Kombo, 2002). From each sampled school second year, third year, and forth year were randomly selected through a lottery. The names of the second years third years and fourth years were written on the piece of paper. For the second-year class, the pieces of paper corresponding to the number of schools were thoroughly mixed in the basket and one paper was picked at random and the class noted. The same procedure was used to pick the third-year and fourth year classes from where the respondents were sampled from. All the students in the sampled classes were given numbers and then pieces of paper with numbers equivalent to the number of students were written, folded, and mixed thoroughly in a basket. Then 13 or 14 students chosen at random picked each a piece of paper randomly from the baskets to get the student participants. Purposive sampling was used to select eight lectures from the sample schools.
The research instruments used to collect data for this study were students and lecturers questionnaires. The research instruments had both structured and unstructured items that enhanced depth and reliability. The students’ questionnaire and source of primary data; the questionnaires had two main parts, the section had the variables of measurement secondary data was sourced from web websites, theses, and articles posted on the internet. The data was used as the basis on which the research was carried out in Moi University West Campus.
The validity of the research was attained by having the instrument designed in a way that the questions counter-checked each other. Answers to some questions were used to verify and clarify earlier given answers. Finally, the instrument was validated by the researchers’ senior in the discipline of research and statistics. The reliability of measurement was also established. The research instrument was pretested to improve it. Split half method was used to determine the reliability of the research instrument. Nachmias and Nachmias (1996) point out that the split-half method can be used in determining the internal consistency during the pre-test. The items were divided into halves and marked with even and odd numbers. Then the scores were tabulated. The results from one half were compared with the results of the other half. From the reliability of half the test, the half correlation of the whole test was estimated using the Spearman-Brown prophecy formula.
The reliability coefficient for the full test was given by the formula; re=2r/1+r where re is the reliability of the coefficient of the original test and r is the reliability of the coefficient resulting from correlating the scores of the odd items with the scores of the even item of third years Moi University west campus.
The data collected was organized, analyzed, and interpreted. Both descriptive and statistical analyses were used. SPSS statistical package and MS Excel for Windows were used. The analysis of collected data began by editing and examination of the returned questionnaires responded to. The data was coded appropriately categorized and processed using the statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The SPSS software was used to generate frequency tables, percentages, bar charts, pie charts, and measures of central tendency and dispersion of qualitative data. The Chi-square test was used for the test of the hypothesis since most of the data were in the ordinal level of measurements then inferences were drawn forming the basis of research findings.
According to Kombo and Tromp (2006), the researcher must maintthe ain privacy and confidentiality of the respondents at all times. In doing this research, we respected the respondents` privacy. The participants were not expected to write their names on the respondent sheet. The participants were assured that the information given would be treated with a lot of confidentiality and for the purpose intended only. The participants were also given the freedom to withdraw from the study at any point of time. The name of the schools was also not disclosed due to the sensitivity of the research problem.
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