Chapter 3

Research methodology

3.1 INTRODUCTION

In this chapter the research methodology used in the study is described. The

geographical area where the study was conducted, the study design and the population and

sample are described. The instrument used to collect the data, including methods implemented to

maintain validity and reliability of the instrument, are described.

3.1 SELECTION OF THE STUDY

World Citi College's Guimba Campus is chosen as a study area because the

students at WCC are known for their procrastinating behavior.

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN

Generally, research design means a structure to plan and execute a particular

research (Sage, 1998). Research design is the crucial part of the research as it includes all the

four important considerations: the strategy, the conceptual framework, the identification of

whom and what to study on and the tools and procedures to be used for collecting and analyzing

data (Ibid, 2007). The research design basically is divided into several types for example

qualitative research and quantitative research.

qualitative research and quantitative research. (Pearson, 2005).

In this study, the researcher used qualitative research method.

Qualitative research method was developed in the social sciences to enable researchers to study

social and cultural phenomena: observe feelings, thoughts, behaviors and the beliefs of the mass

society (Concept Publishing Company, 2008) Examples of qualitative methods are action

research, case study research and grounded theory. (Ibid) Qualitative data sources include

observation and participation observation, interviews and questionnaires, documents and texts,

and the researcher’s impressions and reactions. (Ibid).

For this research, method of interview was employed. The interview

is a mean of gauging the awareness and also the acceptance of Singaporean Muslims towards

Islamic banking products and services offered in several banks in Singapore. Interviewing of

selected individuals is a very important method often used by qualitative researchers. The

rationale for using the interview methods is to enable the researcher to find out what is on their

mind, what they think and how they feel about something. (Macgraw-Hill,2000).

further, the researcher also included the factors of study habits to

determine what make the grade 11 students of World Citi Colleges tend to procrastinate. From

the interview conducted, it will provide the clear findings of grade 11 students study habits and

factors which may encourage them to lessen the procrastinating behavior.

The study is incredibly valuable because it deals with human interaction

and viewpoints. urged to adopt the qualitative approach. The conclusion will be increasingly
accurate as the interviewees are thought to provide more truthful responses and opinions because

of personal contact between you and the interviewer.

3.3 RESEARCH APPROACH

The study employed qualitative data collection techniques. Qualitative

research methods and non-numerical focus on discovering and understanding the experiences,

perspectives, and thoughts of participants. It is subjective in nature. It is useful when you want

to determine skills, opinions and knowledge capability of people.

3.4 POPULATION OF THE STUDY

Population of the study covers all individuals or things or elements that

fit a certain specification, that means all the items under consideration in any field of inquiry to

contribute. The population for this study was about of 14 intervewees which is the grade 11

students of World Citi Colleges.

3.5 SAMPLING AND SAMPLE SIZE

3.5.1 SAMPLE SIZE

For the purpose of study, World Citi Colleges have been selected. The sample

size included 14 interviewees in total.

3.5.2 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Sampling technique is a procedure used to select some elements of a population in

such a way that it represents actual characteristics of the total population (Cohen, 2000). The
grade 11 students were selected due to the fact that they are the ones who is known to do the

procrastinating behavior. Simple sampling was also employed to ask the grade 11 students at

World Citi Colleges.

3.6 DATA COLLECTION

The researcher applied one of the method on data collection techniques.

This was done in order to collect adequate and relevant data to address the research objectives of

this study. Nonetheless, the researcher used qualitative research method.

3.6.1 FIELD RESEARCH

 Interview

Field research composes a number of research methods to solve the

existing research problems such as case study, interview and observation. (Routledge, 2011).

This research adopted the method of interview; the researcher made a selection of the

participants for an interview. In this context, Hackett enumerated that the selection interview will

ensure a better selection of people. (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2003). It

gradually provides guidance on techniques and procedures. However, this encourages the

researcher to organize the interview by evaluating the facts that could emerge from it in order to

reach the best decision.

Interview method is one of the ways to obtain primary data. Primary data is

understood as data which was collected during the conduction of a particular research. The data
will be collected in the execution of an experiment. (Ibid, 1996) Therefore, in order to obtain

primary information, face-to-face interviews were employed. The researcher, with prepared

written questions to the interviewees, used the structured interview. In this context, the structured

interview protocols ask specific objective questions in an arranged order. In addition, the

questions were well structured, planned and organized in line with the objective of the study.

This process encouraged the participants to respond to the questions as accurately as possible.

3.7 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY

3.7.1 Reliability

Reliability is usually referred to as “the consistency of the measures

used in social research” (Boeije, 2010). This means that measuring the same phenomena

should lead to similar outcomes if the research would be repeated with the same methods.

A maximum level of objectivity, neutrality and impartiality were the aim of the researcher.

3.7.2 Validity

Validity is being specific about what you set out to assess. Measurement

validity refers to “whether the measure that is formulated for a particular concept really does

reflect the concept that it is supposed to measure” (Bryman, 2008, et al). All questions were pre

tested in the relevant study areas. Some modifications were made before data collection to see if

the concepts and not ambiguous.

Data needs to be sorted, categorized, connected and interpreted (Boeije,

2010). The in-depth interviews were taken down analysed.

3.9 CONCLUSION

This chapter begins with an introduction then describes the research design

employed in this study. Population and sample study is also mentioned before discussing the

research methodology used to conduct this research. In collecting data, field research are used.

For field research, qualitative method is chosen in which group of interviewees are involved in

the research procedure. The data that were collected are then analyzed and discussed and the

results are displayed.