Sampling is the process of selecting the sample from a population in order to obtain information regarding a phenomenon in a way that represents the population’s interest (Brink, 2003). For the purposes of this research, purposive sampling was used to sample the population. McMillan and Schumacher (2010) define it as the careful selection of information-rich participants for the study. The participants were selected because they have some specific information which they would provide. The six learners were selected because they are currently learning English language which is further used as the LoTL hence they stand on a good vantage point to provide information on English being a gatekeeper subject.
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These learners were suitable participants for the study because the study concentrated strictly on learners’ views or constructions of English as a gatekeeper subject in Swaziland.
3.3.1 POPULATION SAMPLE
A sample is a part of a whole, the most basic unit from which information is collected (Brink, 2003). A sample is taken from the population which has been identified by the researcher as being appropriate for that particular study, in line with the research objectives and objectives.
A sample should therefore be representative in nature of the larger population from which it was taken. If, for example, the population is secondary school learners, then the sample should comprise of those learners only and not college or primary school learners because that would amount to a biased sample. Qualitative case studies normally use small samples from which to collect data. This does not impede on the quality of the findings in any way because the sampled participants are studied in so much depth and detail resulting to a rich and meaningful conclusion arrived at by the researcher.
Furthermore, a researcher may observe a characteristic of interest in all the members of a population after which he/she can confidently base conclusions about the population on these observations (Frankel and Siang, 1999). Although this method can prove too costly and time consuming, its findings can be generalized as a reflection of the true picture among that particular population. This is called perfect induction. A sample on the other hand is drawn during imperfect induction whereby the whole population cannot be observed due to an array of factors such as being expensive and time consuming. At times the population may be too scattered to observe all of them at once hence imperfect induction is then used.
A handful of the population is thereafter selected using systematic criteria. Ultimately, inferences can be drawn from the findings on this sampled group pertaining to the population from which it was sampled.
The population sample for this study consisted of six secondary learners, three boys and three girls selected from Luthela high school in Manzini. The sample was chosen on the basis of academic performance hence two high achievers (70% and above) were selected.
Two average students (50%-69%) were also chosen and lastly, two below average learners (49% and below) added up the sample population to a total of six. The reason for selecting the learners according to the mixture of their abilities in English language subject was to enable the researcher to extract rich and meaningful responses from which inferences can be drawn. Moreover, the academic performance range has been used as a yardstick to select the sample so as to get a truly accurate and balanced account of the views learners have towards English as a gatekeeper. This comes from a point of view that some students
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may naturally have a negative attitude towards English because they do not perform well in it. Others may have a liking for the subject and have only good things to say about it. So the balance of the sample population is meant to get a balanced outlook from the learners on English being a gatekeeper in Swaziland.
The learners were themselves given numbers such as L1 for the first learner, L2, L3 and so on and so forth. Since this was a case study research, the population was 481 secondary school learners in a mixed school in the Manzini region of Swaziland. On average, the school learners range between 12-18 years of age. There are learners who are younger or older but most of them fall within this age bracket. The learners come mostly from low to middle income families. The school itself is semi-urban in the sense that it is located in a rural community. The learners are basically poor with a handful coming from well-to-do families. Most of them come to school on foot while a small number use public transport on a daily basis.
Table 3.1 Learners’ biographical profiles:
Learners Age Gender
L 1 17 years Female
L 2 16 years Female
L 3 16 years Male
L 4 21 years Male
L 5 18 years Female
L 6 17 years Male
Source: Researcher’s computation
The six learners were selected on the basis of gender such that there was a balance of three boys and three girls. This was to ensure that both males and females were equally represented in order to reduce biasness in the outcome or findings of the research. The study was done towards the end of the year when schools were busy preparing for their final examinations. Forms 4s do not sit for a public or exit examination hence their final examination commences later than Form3s and 5s. So, it made sense to use learners from the Form 4 class since they would begin their final examination at least a month later hence the researcher could have more time to gather the data.
46 3.4 RESEARCH ETHICS
The participants in a research study have to be protected and also have their privacy and confidentiality protected (Brink, 2003). The researcher undertook specific steps in order to protect them from any harm which could range from embarrassment, lowered self-esteem and even threats to their integrity. The researcher first sought for ethical clearance from the Univesity of Kwa-Zulu Natal to collect data from the participants. Furthermore, the researcher applied for informed consent from the principal of the school where data was collected. A formal letter was written to him explaining in detail about the study and how learners from his school would be needed to partake in the study. After getting the green light from the principal, another letter was written directed to the learners asking for their permission to be participants in the study before the study could be undertaken. After working with the class teacher to identify the participants, the researcher then addressed the ethical considerations of the study. Some copies were also addressed to their parents since four of them were below 18 years of age. Once again the letters explained in detail how this was a voluntary exercise and how the learners were free to pull out at any time during the data collection exercise should they feel the need to do so. It is unethical to collect data without the knowledge of the participants and their expressed willingness and informed consent (Kumar, 2005). Deceiving the participants is discouraged at all costs, and if this had to be done, they have to be told the truth as soon as the research is over.
As Frankel and Siang (1999) argue, there are basically three components of the informed consent; first, relating the information to the participants, secondly, ensuring that they understand the information and thirdly, obtaining voluntary agreement from them. The parents’ letters were written in siSwati in order to ensure maximum understanding. All six were given their own letters and another letter in each case to take home to their parents or guardians. The researcher further engaged them to explain more and to address any questions they might have had. Obtaining voluntary agreement from the participants was the last step. The participants were assured that their identity would be protected through using pseudo names instead of their real names.