CHAPTER THREE

METHOD AND PROCEDURE

This chapter describes the methods that was employed in conducting this study. It

covered the following sub-topics; Research design, Population and sample, Sampling techniques,

Instrument for data collection, Procedure for instrument development, Validity and reliability of

instrument, Procedure for data collection and Method of data analysis.

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The research adopted a descriptive survey design, aiming to provide detailed

documentation and description of the current state of the information-seeking behavior of the

lecturers at the School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. This

design is particularly well-suited for obtaining valuable insights into people's opinions, attitudes,

preferences, and experiences through the use of questionnaires. By utilizing this design, the study

can gather information in an unbiased manner, ensuring that the data collected accurately

represents the perspectives and experiences of the participants. The descriptive survey design

serves as a robust method for investigating the information-seeking behavior of the lecturers and

contributes to a comprehensive understanding of their practices within the school setting. As

highlighted by Speklé & Widener (2018), this method allows for comprehensive data collection

from a representative sample, ensuring the findings are reflective of the broader population.

Krosnick (2018) further supports this approach for capturing nuanced insights into opinions and

attitudes. Bakker (2018) emphasize that the standardized format of surveys minimizes researcher

bias, enhancing the reliability and validity of the study.

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3.2 POPULATION AND SAMPLE

3.2.1 Population

In research, a population refers to the entire group of individuals or elements that share

common characteristics and from which a sample is drawn for a study. The population is the

complete set of subjects that the researcher is interested in studying and making inferences about.

According to Trochim (2018), a population is defined as the total set of observations that can be

made. This encompasses all individuals or items with the traits or characteristics relevant to the

research question. The population for this study consists of all 22 lecturers at the E.K. Tester

Library, School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau State (Source: Field Survey,

2024).

3.2.2 Sample

A sample is a subset of individuals selected from a larger population, intended to

represent the population in a research study (Creswell, 2024). Sampling allows researchers to

make inferences about the entire population without needing to survey every individual, which

can be time-consuming and costly. Given the relatively small population size, the study utilizes

the entire population of 22 lecturers. This approach ensures that the data collected is

comprehensive and represents the entire group, providing a thorough understanding of the

information needs and seeking behavior of the lecturers at the E.K. Tester Library, School of

Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau State.

3.3 SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

The population size is relatively small with 22 lecturers only at the E.K. Tester Library,

School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau State, the study adopts a census

approach. According to Wu and Thompson (2020) census approach is a method of data collection

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in which every individual or unit within a defined population is surveyed or measured. This

means that every member of the population was included in the sample. This approach is

advantageous as it allows for the inclusion of all perspectives, ensuring comprehensive and

accurate data collection. Involving all 22 lecturers, the study aims to gather detailed and

representative information on their information needs and seeking behavior.

3.4 INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION

The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire called the Information

Seeking Need and Behavior of Lecturers in the School of Biblical Studies Questionnaire

(ISNBLSBSQ). This type of instrument is particularly effective for gathering standardized

information across all participants, as noted by Brace (2018). Furthermore, Harris & Brown

(2019) emphasizes that structured questionnaires facilitate the collection of reliable and valid

data by ensuring consistency in the questions asked and responses received.

3.4.1 Description of the instrument

The primary data collection method to be employed in this study was a structured

questionnaire, which was administered to the respondents. The questionnaire was divided into

five sections, namely “A” to “E”. Section “A” is designed to gather personal data from the

respondents, such as their demographic information, while Section “B to “E” represented the

research question 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively and it is made of 25 items, each research question

with 5 items that aim to capture the individual opinions and perspectives of the respondents

regarding the subject matter of the research study. By utilizing this structured questionnaire, the

study intends to gather comprehensive and relevant data that contributes to a thorough

understanding of the information-seeking behavior of the lecturers at the E.K. Tester Library,

School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria.

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3.4.2 Procedure for Instrument Development

The development of the Information Seeking Need and Behavior of Lecturers in the

School of Biblical Studies Questionnaire (ISNBLSBSQ) followed a systematic procedure to

ensure the reliability and validity of the instrument. The steps involved are as follows:

Step I: Conceptualization

Initially, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify key constructs

relevant to the study. This review focused on demographic information, information needs,

seeking behavior, sources, and barriers. This step was essential to establish a strong theoretical

foundation for the questionnaire, ensuring that the items developed were grounded in existing

research.

Step 2: Item Generation

Following the literature review, specific items for each identified construct were

generated. This process involved creating questions that accurately captured the necessary data

to address the research objectives. Each item was meticulously designed to reflect the constructs

derived from the literature review, ensuring that they were relevant and comprehensive.

Step 3: Structuring the Questionnaire

The questionnaire was then organized into five sections, labeled “A” to “E.” Section “A”

gathered personal and demographic information, while Sections “B” to “E” corresponded to the

four research questions, each containing five items aimed at capturing the respondents' opinions

and perspectives on the research topic. This structured approach facilitated a logical flow and

ease of response for the participants.

Step 4: Formatting and Scaling

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 The questionnaire items were formatted using a five-point Likert rating scale, ranging

from “Strongly Agree” (SA) with a rating of 4, to “Agree” (A) with a rating of 3, “Disagree” (D)

with a rating of 2, and “Strongly Disagree” (SD) with a rating of 1. This format ensured the

collection of standardized responses, enhancing the reliability of the data.

Step 5: Expert Review and Pilot Testing

The draft questionnaire was then submitted to experts in the field for review to ensure

content validity. Based on their feedback, revisions were made to refine the items and improve

clarity. Subsequently, a pilot test was conducted with 5 lecturers to identify any issues with the

questionnaire and to assess its reliability. This step was crucial for making necessary adjustments

before the final administration.

Step 6: Finalization

The pilot test data were analyzed to ensure the reliability and validity of the

questionnaire. Any necessary adjustments were made based on the pilot test findings. Once

finalized, the questionnaire was ready for administration to the entire study population. This

thorough process ensured that the ISNBLSBSQ was a robust instrument, capable of effectively

gathering comprehensive and relevant data to understand the information-seeking behavior of the

lecturers at the E.K. Tester Library, School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring Road, Jos Plateau

State, Nigeria.

3.5 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENT

3.5.1 Validity of Instrument

To ensure that the instrument for this study is valid, the content was subjected to

scrutiny. The face validity was carried out by an expert in Test and Measurement from the

University of Jos to check the content validity, while two other experts in Library and

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Information Science Unit in the Department of Social Science Education, Faculty of Education,

University of Jos also checked the content of the instrument. These experts assessed the content,

objectives and activities of the instrument to ensure their usability and comprehensiveness using

determining instrument evaluation for experts (Gupiyem, 2013). The observations and

corrections from these experts was used for the construction of the final instruments used for the

study. The supervisor gave final approval for the use of the validated instrument.

3.5.2 Reliability of the Instrument

The pilot testing of the instrument was carried out at the Department of Religion and

Philosophy University of Jos. The test re-test technique was adopted to establish the reliability of

the instrument. The instrument was administered twice within the interval of two weeks to 20

lecturers in the Department of Religion and Philosophy, University of Jos. Cronbach alpha (α)

was used and the suitability of the instrument was determined by the co-efficient of reliability to

be 0.82. This was done to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. Krosnick (2018)

indicated that a reliability co-efficient of 0.5 or more is considered reliable.

3.6 PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION

The data for this study was gathered through the administration and scoring of the

instrument. The researcher collected a letter of introduction from the Head of Department Social

Science Education, Faculty of Education to visit the School of Biblical Studies, Bauchi Ring

Road, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria to obtain permission from the school administrators. The

researcher and the School Management discussed the reasons for the activity and the researcher

then took the questionnaire to the respondents. The questionnaire was personally administered to

the Lecturers to ensure a 100% return of the questionnaire.

3.7 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

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 The study will employ a descriptive analysis method for the data collected utilizing

simple percentages of frequency variables and mean calculated using SPSS to determine the

degree of significant levels scale in questionnaire as follows; Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A),

Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD). The values are; SA=4, A=3, D=2, and SD=1.

To determine the average cut-off Mean = 4+3+2+1 = 3 by using 0.05 confidence level of the
4

Mean, we have 2.50 ± 0.05 which gives 2.55 and 2.45.

Decision Rule

 Any calculated mean that falls below 2.55 will be regarded as disagreed

 Any calculated mean that is above 2.55 will be regarded as agreed.

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 REFERENCES

Bakker, A. (2018). What is design research in education? Routledge, United Kingdom.

Brace, I. (2018). Questionnaire design: How to plan, structure and write survey material for
effective market research. Kogan Page Publishers, New York.

Gupiyem, G. G (2013). Assessment of Library resources in Theological institutions in North

Central States of Nigeria, (Doctoral Thesis, University of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria).

Harris, L. R., & Brown, G. T. (2019). Mixing interview and questionnaire methods: Practical
problems in aligning data. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 15 (1), 1.

Krosnick, J. A. (2018). Questionnaire Design. In: Vannette, D., Krosnick, J. (eds) The Palgrave
Handbook of Survey Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-
3-319-54395-6_53

Speklé, R. F., & Widener, S. K. (2018). Challenging issues in survey research: Discussion and
suggestions. Journal of Management Accounting Research, 30 (2), 3-21.

Trochim, W. M. K. (2018). Research Methods Knowledge Base. Atomic Dog Publishing. United
State.

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