CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0 INTRODUCTION
This chapter highlights how the researcher intends to conduct the study by gathering necessary
and valid data that can be tested and replicated. It specifies the method to be employed and why they
are used in the study. Points of focus in this chapter shall include the method of data collection and
analysis, how the data will be analysed and the instruments that will be employed and used in the study
analysis. Finally, these procedures will enable the researcher to make a fairly convenient study from
which readers can be assured of reliability and validity.

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The researcher chose a survey research design because it best served to answer the questions
and the purposes of the study being undertaken. The survey research is one in which a group of people
or items is studied by collecting and analysing data from only a few people or items considered to be
representative of the entire group. In other words, only a part of the population is studied, and findings
from this are expected to be generalized to the entire population (Nworgu 1991:68). Similarly, the
survey can be used in assessing public opinion or individual characteristics by the use of questionnaire
sampling and interviews methods.

3.2 INSTRUMENTS OF DATA COLLECTION

The instruments of data collection refer to the tools for data collection upon which this study
depends on for its validity and reliability. The method of data collection/gathering that was employed
in the course of this study is the survey method. This is because of its explicit rules and procedures on
gathering information about a large population. Both primary and secondary methods of data were used
in this study. Journals, textbooks, articles and the internet were all consulted which formed most parts
of literature review. The study also benefitted from Primary method of data collection which was
employed and used to generate data for the study. The primary sources involved a direct process where
a sample of people were administered questionnaires and interviewed at the same time, the
questionnaires were in structured and unstructured form. This is due to its relative advantage in terms
of time utilization, cost involved in gathering information and its reliability.
The two major instruments used includes;
1. Questionnaire
2. interview
Questionnaire is an effective way of gathering input and have feedback at the same time. The researcher
printed the questionnaire in two sections. Section A is on background information of the respondents
where their age, level of education and gender etc, are considered with assurances of confidentiality.
Section B consist of questions on the people’s perception on state of military professionalism in the
light of their experiences of military operations. The use of questionnaire as a tool has been an effective
means of gathering research data with many reasons pointing to the desirability of the method. Yet, it
has some demerits as pointed out in the summary table below.
Merits of Questionnaire Method: Demerits of Questionnaire Method:
1. It is very economical. 1. Through this we get only limited responses.

2. It is a time saving process. 2. Lack of personal contact.

3. It covers the research in wide area. 3. It has greater possibility of wrong answers.

4. It is very suitable for special type of responses. 4. Chances of receiving incomplete response
are more.

5. It is most reliable in special cases. 5. Sometimes answers may be illegible.

The construction of knowledge is viable to the extent the data collection method allows the researcher
to use a range of probes and other techniques to achieve depth of answer in terms of penetration,
exploration and explanation. In order to achieve this, the researcher decides to use interview method to
elicit data from the communities that were studied. He employed and used the unstructured (in-depth
interview) method and together with the interviewee came together and created a context of
conversational intimacy in which participants felt comfortable telling their experiences concerning the
state of professional collapse in the military. In the course of doing this, the researcher assured the
people of utmost confidentiality. One of the advantages of this method is the ability to combine method
with flexibility among many others as presented in the table below;
Merits of Interview: Disadvantage of Interview:
1. Direct research. 1. May provides misleading information.

2. Deep research 2. Defects due to interviewee low emotional

intelligence

3. Knowledge of past and future. 3. Result may be affected due to prejudices of

interviewer.

4. Mutual encouragement is possible. 5. One sided and incomplete research.

5. Supra-observation is possible. 6. Art rather than science.

3.3 POPULATION AND SAMPLING DESIGN

The population of a study basically, is the total number of people in the form of a thorough
headcount of all elements the study seeks to represent. This is because a clearly defined population
would ensure that the results and findings apply to the characteristics of the elements in the society.
Considering that the study basically assesses the factors that ensures the collapse in military
professionalism and how it is impacting operation with consequences on the lives and properties of the
people in Plateau state. The total population of people in Plateau state is two million nine hundred and
fifty-nine thousand, five hundred and eighty (2,959,580. Source-2006 census). Considering that the
population is high, the study intends to consider five local governments in Plateau state. The local
government areas together with their populations include:
Local government Population
Jos North 429,300
Jos South 306,716
Jos East 85,602
Barkin Ladi 175,267
Ryom 131,557
Total 1,128,442
Source: 2006 Housing Census.
According to Ibanga, (2006:11), a researcher would love to study all cases he/she is confronted
with in a given situation. However, certain constraints usually make such design not more than a wish.
In other words, it is quite difficult to study every case in the population. It may be added that it is not
practical to use the whole population to conduct the survey since the process takes a lot of time and the
term sample is part picked from the whole set of data, which is called population to reflect the responses
of the whole population taking the characteristics of the sampled population in order to impact the level
of significance. Thus, th ere is the need for a researcher to use a smaller proportion of the population.
From the foregoing, a total sample of one hundred and fifty (100) respondents would be drawn from
each of the five (5) local governments (Jos North, Jos South, Jos East, Barkin-ladi and Ryom) randomly
with no particular preference to gender and experience of respondents. This was so in order to ensure
that the sampled population remains heterogeneous. The questionnaires were administered to the
respondents on a personal basis.
It was the researchers believe that responses from a sample representing the five (5) local
governments under focus would guarantee effective representation of their perception, experiences and
concerns about the state of military professionalism, effectiveness and desirability.

3.4 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

Data collected from this study was analysed using the triangulation method taking into
consideration the multiple source. Narrative was used to present and analyse the data elicited from
interview, percentage and cross tabulation would be used by the researcher to transform the data
collected through questionnaire into simple and useful information as this makes it easy for everyone
to understand and interpret using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The analysis method
that was used is both quantitative and qualitative with specific consideration to the objectives of the
study. This method is referred to as the triangulation technique. Triangulation provides the researcher with
opportunities to evaluate the quality of the study outcome, in other words, it allows researchers to be more
confident of their results with little or no room for duplication. The effectiveness of triangulation rests on the
premise that the weaknesses in each single method will be compensated by the counter-balancing
strengths of another. That is, it is assumed that multiple and independent measures do not share the
same weaknesses or potential for bias. Although it has always been observed that each method has
assets and liabilities, triangulation purports to exploit the assets and neutralize, rather than compound,
the liabilities.
 Faculty of social sciences
Department of sociology
University of Jos.
Jos, Nigeria.

Dear respondent,

I am a post graduate student (MSc.) of the above-named institution. I am conducting a

study in order to examine the collapse in military professionalism and the impact on operations,

being an assessment of peacekeeping operations in plateau state, Nigeria.

The results will be used for academic research purposes only and treated with confidentiality.

Kindly respond by ticking in this manner ().

Thank you, sir/madam,

 QUESTIONNAIRE
SECTION A

Socio-economic and demographic characteristic of respondents

1. Sex: male ( ) female ( )
2. Age 20-24 ( ) 25-29 ( ) 30-34 ( ) 35-40 ( ) 41and above ( )
3. Religion: Islam ( ) Christianity ( ) traditional ( )
4. Marital status: single ( ) married ( ) Divorced ( ) Widow/widower ( )
5. Level of Education: No formal education ( ) primary ( ) secondary ( )
Tertiary ( )
6. Occupation: farmer ( ) artisan ( ) business ( ) civil/public servant ( ) Not
doing anything ( )

SECTION B
Respondents views on state of military professionalism and its impact on
operations in Plateau state

7. How effective do you think the military have been in peacekeeping operations
in Plateau State? (a) very effective ( ) (b) effective ( )(c) ineffective ( ) (d)
very ineffective ( )
8. Do you think the military operations in Plateau state is guided by any rules of
engagement? Yes ( ) No ( )
9. If you answer yes in question 8 above, do you think the rules of engagements
are applied in military operations in Plateau state? Yes ( ) No ( )
10. Do you think the military are quick in their response when called upon for an
emergency security situation in Plateau state? Yes ( ) No ( )
11. Have you been forced to give bribe in a military check point in Plateau state?
Yes ( ) No ( )
12. Have you been harassed by the military in Plateau state? Yes ( ) No ( )
13. Have you lost a relation due to indiscriminate shootings by the military Yes ( )
No ( )
14. Do you think court-marshal is enough punishment for soldiers who violates the
law of armed conflict leading to the death of an un-armed civilian? Yes ( ) No
( )
15. Based on the behaviours of soldiers you have observed, should ethical conduct
be more of an issue than it is?
a. Strongly agree
b. Agree
c. Disagree
d. Strongly disagree
e. Undecided

16. Have you ever seen a soldier intentionally doing something you thought is
unethical? Yes ( ) No ( )
17. From your observations, when soldiers act unethically, how often is such
behaviour favourably rewarded by those in authority?
a. Often
b. Not often
c. Rarely
d. Not at all
e. Don’t know
18. What do you think can be done to enhance the professional capability of the
military in Nigeria_________________________________________________
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