Implementation Of Vocational Education Psychology Essay

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There is an absence of both in Nigeria and international research into the area of implementation of vocational education and its impact in women participation in workforce in Nigeria and to address this issue the researcher propose to carry out this study. Within this chapter the researcher will outline and discuss the most appropriate methods of design, sample selection, data collection, and analysis. There will also be description of the ethical considerations necessary to complete the proposed study.

3.1 Design of the Study

Given the limited information on the target population, and more specifically the issue under investigation, a qualitative approach was best suited to further understand the Implementation of Vocational Education and Its Impact in Women Participation in Workforce in Nigeria. According to Merriam (1998) qualitative research is interested "in process rather than outcomes, in context rather than specific variables, in discovery rather than confirmation" (p.19). Creswell (2007) also states that qualitative research is a means for exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or group ascribe to a social or human problem. The purpose of qualitative studies is to describe a phenomenon from the participation's point of view through interviews and observations. The intention of the researcher is to listen to the voice of participants or observe them in their natural environment (Field & Morse, 1992).

In contrast to quantitative approach which assumes one objective reality that is measurable (Crotty, 1998), qualitative researcher recognizes that meaning is socially constructed by individuals in interaction with their world. It is important to interact with participants in this kind of study, so as to get their experiences and articulate their perception on the phenomenon under investigation. Peshkin (1993) asserts that qualitative method will enable a researcher to gain new insight about a particular phenomenon, develop new concepts or perspective about the phenomenon, and/or discover the problem that exists within the phenomenon. In support of Merriam and Simpon (2000), qualitative research attempts to achieve an understanding of how people make sense out of their lives. The perspective of participants is one of the features of qualitative research (Flick, 1998; Stake, 1995).

In addition Irving (2006) pointed out that in qualitative research hypotheses are not being tested, the issue is not whether the researcher can generalize the finding of an interview study to a broader population, instead the researcher's task is to present the experience of the people he or she interviews in compelling enough detail and in sufficient depth that those who read the study can connect to that experience, learn how it is constituted and deepen their understanding of the issues it reflects. Qualitative research uses naturalistic approach that seeks to understand phenomena in context-specific settings such as "real world setting [where] the researcher does not attempt to manipulate the phenomenon of interest" (Nahid, 2003).

Maykut and Morehouse (1994: 43-47) and Streubert and Carpenter (1995: 10-12) emphasis that this type of research require in-depth understanding of the informants' view as well as going into the research site without preconceived ideas about the phenomenon under study

3.2 Population and Sample

The essence of participants in any research is to help in solving the problem under investigation. So far that, the selection of participants in this study will be based on the potential of each participant's ability to contribute to researcher understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. The purpose of sample is not to achieve statistical generalization, but rather to gain the perspective of the participants. Selection of participants in qualitative research should be in such a way that it will reflect the researcher's aim to discover and understand the inquired phenomenon (Merriam, 1998). One issue of concern in qualitative research is the issue of number of participants in the study. Qualitative research is unlike quantitative research were by a large number of sample will be selected for the study, qualitative use a very few number of participants. Patton (2000) opines that a small sample does not mean that the research is not significant. Merriam also supported that the small size will enable the researcher to have an in-depth understanding of the research phenomenon and not to seek statistical generalization. It is clear that the small sample is to be used in order for the researcher to have an in-depth understanding of the research phenomenon. Based on the above submission the researcher in consultation with the supervisory committee will determine the number of participants to be selected.

In determining the sample for the study, two methods of sampling will be employed; purposive sampling and snowballing. Hollow and Wheeler (1996: 74) describe purposive sampling as sampling where individuals or group with special knowledge of the topic are chosen. It implies selecting potential participants who researcher believes can contribute to the phenomenon under investigation. Patton (2003) asserts that "the logic and power of purposeful sampling lies in selecting information-rich cases for study in depth (p.230) which have the potential to yield insight and in-depth understanding rather than empirical generalization. Information-rich case are those from which great deal about issues of central importance to the purpose of the inquiry, thus the term purposeful sampling (p.230).

The second method is snowballing. This is a technique of asking participants to recommend other potential participants. The researcher will ask participant to suggest other participants who are qualified and he will also contact them to ascertain their profile and capability of being part of the study. The sample for this study will consist of female students attending Federal Polytechnic and who are enrolled in vocational education program. Participants for this study must be in their 1st and 2nd year of Higher National Diploma (HND) and must have completed National Diploma (ND) in vocational education. The participant also must have had at least six month industrial work experience or industrial training to qualify to participate in the study.

3.2.1Justification for Sampling Selection

As stated above the researcher will carefully select his participants among female students who are enrolled in vocational education program. These participants must have completed ND with at least six months work experience and must be in the 1st or 2nd year of HND in vocational education program. These participants will help in expressing their feeling on the Implication of Vocational Education and Its Impact on Women Participation in Workforce in Nigeria. These participants have passed through secondary education, completed ND in vocational program, worked for at least six months before returning to the institution for HND. These participants will be reach in experience in expressing their feelings on the factors influencing women participation in vocational pr0gram and also relate the experience of women participation in workforce. In addition the researcher will try to establish a link or sort friendship so as to enable him gain acceptance from the participants.

3.3 Data Collection

As previously stated the researcher intends to carry out a qualitative study, in order to do so the researcher will adopt open ended, semi-structured, in-depth interview as it allows participants to discuss their opinions, views and experiences fully in detail where as perhaps a set interview with closed ended questions may inhibit them to express their full opinions and feeling about the phenomenon under investigation. With the use of semi-structured interviews the researcher will have prepared a topic guide or a certain amount of questions to be covered with the participants (Polit & Beck 2008). A face to face interview allows the researcher to observe any non-verbal communication but also allows both the interviewer and participant to seek any clarification necessary. The interview will be guided by four open ended questions, uniquely developed by the researcher for the purpose of this study. The interviews are estimated to last 60-90 minutes however, these questions and time are merely a guide or structure to the interview sessions; it is the participant's responses which will lead the direction and length of the interview. The interviews will be audio-taped with permission from the participants to ascertain an accurate account of the interview which can be replayed for analytic purposes and anonymity will be assured during the course of the recording. Participants will be reminded of their right to withdraw from the study or terminate the interview at any time before commencing the session.

3.4 Data Analysis

The purpose of data analysis is to organize, provide structure to and elicit meaning from research data (Polit & Beck, 2008). Data analysis will be ongoing in conjunction with data collection as Polit and Hunglar (19990 states as interviews are conducted, gathered data is synthesized, interpreted and communicated to give meaning to it. Merriam (1998) and Marshall & Rossman (1989) content that data collection and analysis must be a simultaneous process in qualitative research. They claim that qualitative data analysis entails classifying things, persons and events and the properties that characterize them.

The researcher will transcribe the interviews verbatim and analysis of the transcripts will be carried out by the researcher while utilizing Colaizzi's (1978) seven step process to descriptive data analysis. First the researcher will read all participants questionnaires and transcribe the data collected from the interviews to get a general sense of the whole and ideas presented. Next, significant statements and phrases pertaining to the phenomenon being studied are extracted from each transcript. Meaning is then formulated from the significant statements. Then the meanings are organized into themes, and these themes evolve into them clusters and eventually into them categories. A color coded system will be used to highlight specific themes/categories to perform a preliminary analysis. This process allows the researcher to interpret findings more easily.

In order to achieve complete data saturation, thorough reading and re-reading is necessary to ensure all recurring information and variations are identified and only when no new information can be obtained is this achieved (Holloway & Wheeler 2002; Polit & Beck, 2008).

3.5 Pilot Study

A pilot study is used to assist in the further development of a large study, it may be used in order to test study measures, estimation of interviews, testing validity of tools and estimation of outcome variables (Arain eet al. 2010). Researchers benefit from carrying out a pilot study prior to the main study as it allows for the identification of any weaknesses in the plans and allows time to rectify and necessary amendments before carrying out the remainder of the study.

In most cases it is recommended that a pilot study be carried out prior to the main research using 10 percent of the actual sample size, however as this is study is a qualitative study the researcher will use number as will be arrived with the supervisory committee. This pilot study will be used to test the tools/frameworks trustworthiness, reliability, and also the interview location, audio recording sound, and time frames. This pilot study will be used as a method to discover any flaws in the current data collection plan, while also allowing enough time to rectify these before the main research takes place.

3.6 Validity and Reliability

All research irrespective of methods or design is concerned with producing valid and reliable knowledge in ethical manner. In qualitative research trustworthiness and rigor are indicators of validity and reliability. Reliability is concerned with the question of the extent to which one's finding will be found again. That is if the inquiry is replicated, would the finding be the same (Merriam, 1998). Validity necessitates demonstration that the proposition generated, refined or tested matches the casual condition which obtains in human life.

The connection between reliability and internal validity from a traditional perspective rest for some on the assumption that a study in more valid if repeated observations in the same study or replication of the entire study produces the same result (Merriam, 1998). Because human are the primary instrument of data collection and analysis in qualitative research interpretations of reality are accessed directly through their observation and interviews. Lincoln and Guba (1985 p.288) asserts that the most important question for qualitative research is whether the result are consistent with the data collected. Rather than demanding that outsiders get the same results as researchers wishes outsiders to concur that given the data collected the results make sense-they are consistent and dependable. The question then is not whether findings will be found again but whether the results are consistent with data collected.

T he researcher in ensuring validity and reliability will employ triangulation which encompasses the use of multiple methods (Denzi, 1970; Mathison, 1988), The researcher will hear the phenomenon in interviews, match it with what took place in observation and try to compare it with what the researcher read in pertinent documents and this gives the researcher the confident that "reality" of the situation, as perceived by those in it, is being conveyed as "truthfully" as possible. The researcher will use member checks-taking data collected from the study participants and tentative interpretations of these data back to the people from whom they were derived and ask if the interpretation were plausible, if the "ring true" (Guba & Lincoln, 1981; Patton, 1991). The researcher will adopt peer/colleague examination by asking peers or colleagues to examine the data and comment on the plausibility of the emerging finding. The researcher in submersion/engagement in the research situation-will collect data over a long period of time to ensure in-depth understanding of the phenomena. The researcher will incorporate these principles to enhance validity and reliability of the study at hand.

3.7 Ethical Consideration

The issue of ethics in conducting research is very crucial, as a researcher there are certain ethics that you need to adhere to in order to have a good conduct in your research. The researcher must anticipate any ethical issues that may arise during the qualitative process (Creswell, 2009). The researcher need to protect his participants by developing trust with them, providing the integrity of the research, guarding against misconduct and any impropriety that might reflect on the organization or institutions and cope with new challenging problems (Creswell, 2009). First and foremost, the researcher has an obligation to respect the rights, needs, values and desires of the participants. The reputation and position of the participants are visible, especially since the findings of the study could be shared with other people and organizations. The participants will be safeguarded and their right protected.

Participants will be advised in writing of the voluntary nature of their participation and that they could withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. If they show interest and wish to participate then the researcher will make use of them, but they refuse or decline, the researcher has no right whatsoever to force them. He should not also use any influence to trick the participant because by doing so the entire study will be affected and he cannot be able to get expected result. They will also be advised that at any time during the process they could decline to answer and question. The research objectives will be clearly delineated in writing and articulated to participants. A written consent form will obtained from each participant. The participants will be informed in writing of all data collection methods and activities. Provisions will be made for monitoring data collected to ensure the safety of the participants. Written transcriptions and interpretations of the data will be made available to the participants. The participants rights, interest and wishes will be considered first when choices are made regarding participant privacy will be rest with the participant.

All findings and results presented will be that of actual facts stated in the interviews. All participants' experiences and perceptions will be portrayed as they have done so in the interviews, on false information or accusations will be included in the final report. Ethical issues may arise at any point during any study regardless of the scrupulous planning therefore it is important that possible ethical issues are identified, prevented, and reviewed as best as possible prior to, during and after the study. Ethical principles provide direction to the possible issues not answers. The risk to the participants is considered minimal