CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
A work of this nature needs a methodology that explains the area of study, methods
of data collection, population of the study, sample size, methods of data analysis
and validity of the study among others.
3.1 Research design
According to Churchill (2002), research design is a master plan specifying
methods and procedures for collecting and analyzing the required data. It is a
means to complete a study. The research design helps the researcher to obtain
relevant data to fulfill the objectives of the study (Churchill and Lacobucci, 2002).
This study uses the descriptive research design (it depicts the participants in an
accurate way) because it takes into consideration the characteristics of the
population under study. Also because the study uses both quantitative and
qualitative data.
3.2 Area of study
Bamenda III Council is the gateway to and from the Divisions of Boyo,
Ngohkentunja, Bui and Donga Mantung. It is an important transit for passengers
and goods to and from the North West Region. Bamenda III is linked to the North
West Region by the Bamenda-Kumbo highway, Bamenda-Fundong highway,
Bamenda-Wum and Bamenda Mamfe highways. To the West is the Bamenda-
Bafoussam highway. It is bounded by Tubah Council to the west, Bamenda I Sub-
Divisional Council to the north, Bamenda II Sub-Divisional Council to the east and
Bafut Council to the south. It has a total surface area of 22.9km2 and a population
estimated at 150,000 inhabitants. This population is largely cosmopolitan, made up
of indigenous Nkwen and Ndzah people together with migrants from all over the
North West and West Regions, and other regions of Cameroon and Nigeria.
The natural sites of Bamenda III consist of the Ndzah plateau to the south east, the
Nkwen escarpments which divide Ndzah from Nkwen. Nkwen also has undulating
and well drained lowland terrain. There are also several waterfalls and streams
dissecting the escarpments and low lying lands
3.2.1. Historical Profile
Bamenda III Council was created in 2007 by Ministerial Decree. No. 2007/115 of
23rd April 2007. Since then, it has been operating on a temporal site. However, its
permanent site is under construction. From its creation, the following persons have
been Mayors;
POLITICAL
S/N NAME YEAR
PARTY
Prince Pius Ngwa
1 SDF 2007-2010
Amandou
2010-
2 Fonguh Cletus Tanwe SDF
Present
Bamenda III Council has 02 main clans, Nkwen and Ndzah. The Nkwen people
who are part of the Tikari group, migrated from Northern Nigeria, passing through
Ndop to Njinkwin in Kom, then through bafut to Ateila from where they settled at
the present site. Then, there are the Ndzah people who are believed to be part of
the Baforchu (Mbu) people who broke away around the 18 th Century under the
leadership of Chief Ngu Fomumunte Foboingong. They moved through Widikum-
Bafut-Mankon-Nkwen and finally settled at their present site. Note should be taken
that all these movements were either because of the quest for fertile land, security,
or chieftaincy disputes. From time immemorial, these groups have been inter-
marrying and even with their neighbours of Bafut, Mankon, Mendankwe, and
Bambili. This closeness is evident in their cultures which have a lot of similarities
than differences.
Today, there is a great ethnic mix within the council area. It is very common to
find the Fulani within the council area whose presence is as a result of cattle
rearing which is their main stay. There are also Nigerians, Ngemba, Bamilike,
Noni, Nso and Wimbum people. Despite this mix, there is always that strong bond
among all inhabitants and they freely inter-relate either for social or other reasons
whenever need arises.
3.2.2. Villages and respective quarters within the Bamenda III Council Area
Bamenda III council has 02 villages, with each having its quarters as seen in the
table below:
S/ VILLAGE QUARTERS
N
1. Nkwen 1. Alalie
2. Atieba
3. Atielah-
Mbelewa
4. Atiesu-
Mbessi
5. Bayelle
6. Bayelle I
7. Bayelle II
8. Bayelle III
9. Bayelle IV
10.Bujong-
Mambu
11.Futru I
12.Futru II
13.Lower
Menteh
14.Manka-
Mambu
15.Mbefi-
Mambu
16.Mbelem
17.Mbeso-
Mambu
18.Mbung
19.Menjung
20.Menka-
Menda
21.Mubang
22.Mugheb
23.Nchang
24.Njejefor
25.Njengang
26.Nkwenjang
27.Nkwesi
28.Ntaghem I
29.Ntaghem II
30.Ntakeka
31.Ntambang
32.Ntambru
33.Ntamuche
34.Ntasen
35.Ntefinki
36.Ntela
37.Ntenetene
38.Ntenjung-
Mbessi
39.Ntensu-
Mbelewa
40.Sisia I
41.Sisia II
42.Sisia III
43.Sisia IV
44.Teken
45.Town
Green
46.Upper
Menteh
2. Ndzah 1. Mokop
2. Mubakuh
3. Terrekoh
4. Chamkoh
5. Ntaw
6. Wumsei
7. Wumkien
8. Tarri
9. Njimben
Source: Field studies, 2012
3.2.3. Population per village
Statistics shows that population figures for the Bamenda III Council Area have
witnessed an increase. From the financial documents (Budgets) of 2008 (47,000)
and 2009 (48,500), there has been a remarkable increase. Recent figures however
show that the population stands at 150.000 inhabitants. This is spread within the 02
villages as seen on the table below. However, part of this population is found
within the urban space and is not represented in the table below.
3.3 Population, sample and sampling technique
One municipality (Bamenda III) in Mezam constituted the study population.
According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), a sample size of between 10% and
30% is a good representative of the target population. Based on this, the researcher
settled at 30% to draw a sample of approximately 20 (0.3×55 = 16.5) workers in
Bamenda III council.
This research project adopted the convenience technique. Here, convenience
sampling was used to give each worker in the institution (Bamenda III council) an
equal chance of being selected so as to get reliable results
3.4 Development of instruments for the study
For this study, questionnaire were developed and used as the main research
instrument. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of the demographic
information of the respondents. Queries about personal information of the
sample included sex, age, marital status and level of education.
The second part of the questionnaire consisted of the social conflict information.
Here, questions were asked to cover all the research objectives.
The questionnaires were filled by respondents.
# Sections Section Title Variable Qs/Section
1. Section A Demographic Data Independent 5
2. Section B Social conflict Independent
3.6. Validity
Validity is concerned with whether the findings are really about what they appear
to be about (Saunders, et. al., 2009). Also validity is concerned with the idea that
the research design fully addresses the research questions and objectives
researcher is trying to answer and achieve respectively. To ensure validity, this
study used a number of measures: (i) focusing on the respondents who operate
almost every day in the Bamenda III council and participate in the day to day
activities of the institution. (ii)Having the same number of questionnaires to be
answered by those participating in the interview answering the same questions
and in the same order, the purpose being to cou=ntercheck whether different
workers give same account of the subject matters being investigated.
3.7 Reliability of Data Collection Tool
Reliability refers to the extent to which data collection techniques will yield
consistent findings, similar observation, would be made or conclusions reached by
other researchers or there is transparency in how sense was made from the raw
data (Saunders, et. al., 2009). This was ensured by having an interviewer-
administered questionnaire to guide the interview rather than the “drop and
collect later” approach. This ensured that respondents answered the same
questions and in the same order with control by the researcher where potential
misunderstanding of the questions were detected and rectified during the
interview process.
3.8 Methods of data collection
During the entire research, the researcher used primary data. Primary data is first
hand data. The main source of data is primary data collected through interview
and questionnaires from the workers in the municipalities. This research analysis
is categorized in quantitative analysis, used a method sample survey.
In a sample survey, only part of the total population is approached for data. It has
the advantage in that it uses less time and money than a census. And also better
monitoring and quality control precision. However, in so doing, researcher also
excludes much viable data from participation, which would have made results,
findings and possibly recommendations to be much more robust.
The survey was conducted by the researcher herself who in administering the
questionnaire verbally and recording the results interviewed 20 respondents.
Locations for survey were spread across the Bamenda III municipality. The data
for this study were taken into account to get a representative sample of workers
in Bamenda III municipality using random sampling technique. There were several
main offices in the Municipality.
3.9 Method of data analysis
Data collected from questionnaires was analysed, summarised and interpreted
with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The descriptive
statistics made use of tables and percentages meanwhile inferential statistics
made use of the Chi-Square (X2) test (non-parametric test). The Chi-Square (X2)
was used to determine whether there was any significant difference between
observed and theoretical frequencies obtained from the distribution. The purpose
of Chi-Square test was to determine or ascertain the level of change in the
expected frequency that can be tolerated before we accept or reject the null
hypothesis. The determination of Chi-Square is shown below.
(Oi−Ei) ²
X2 = ∑ , whereX2 = Chi-Square, Oi=observed counts and Ei=expected
Ei
counts
The researcher used Microsoft Excel to aid the analysis.
