Chapter 3


 


RESEARCH METHODOLOGY


 


 


This chapter presents the description of the research method to be used, a description of the respondents, the instruments to be used, the procedures and statistical treatment utilized in analyzing the data that will be gathered.


 


Research Design

This study will use the descriptive-normative-survey approach.  This study will explain in detail how the state pension provisions in the UK had affected both the workforce particularly, the pension and benefits of the elderly and the retired workers. Further, the health benefits and their satisfaction over the services of the UK government will be analyzed. In particular, it will describe the state of retired workers who are now relying solely on the state pension provided by the government. The researcher will use a researcher made survey questionnaire, which the retired pensioners will answer.  The researcher will inquire on the state’s effectivity in formulating and implementing pension policies vis a vis the needs of the pensioners. Further, satisfaction will be measured in terms of effectivity in delivering the services and the satisfaction of the respondents.  In this research design, the researcher will apply the general principles of gathering data and use published sources of statistics; sampling questionnaires; interviews; and content analysis of documentary and verbal material.  After which the data is collated and statistically analyzed, the researcher will present the conclusion and recommendations with regard to the current state of pension system in UK.


Method of Data Collection


The primary source of the data will come from a researcher-made questionnaire, which will be given to the respondents.  The respondents of this study will be randomly selected state pension beneficiaries from the city of London.  The survey will find out the level of satisfaction of the respondents.  The survey will first profile the respondents’ educational attainment, monthly income while still working, number of years in the workforce, private or public sector, marital status and the number of children.  Then, they will have to give their views on statements according to their level of satisfaction in the state’s pension policy. 


            The secondary sources of data will come from articles, theses and related studies on state pensions and the level of satisfaction of the state pension recipients.


 


Instruments

To measure the satisfaction of the state’s effectiveness in delivering social services through pensions, the researcher will prepare a survey questionnaire which will be given to the randomly selected pension beneficiaries of the state..  Part 1 of the survey will ask for the profile of the respondents; according to age, gender, marital status, educational attainment, number of years in service, public or private sector and monthly income.  Part 2 will contain statements that will determine the level of satisfaction of the respondents.  Each respondent will grade each statement in the survey-questionnaire using a Likert scale with a four-response scale wherein respondents will be given four response choices to be able to ascertain their the level of home-school involvement.  The equivalent weights for the answers will be:


 


Range                                                Interpretation


      3.50 – 4.00                                        To a large extent


2.50 – 3.49                                        To a moderate extent


1.50 – 2.49                                        To a certain extent


                        0 – 1.49                                              Almost never


Part 3 will determine the parent’s level of interaction with their children’s school.  The researcher will also use the Likert scale with the following equivalent weights:


Range                                                Interpretation


      3.50 – 4.00                                        Strongly Agree


2.50 – 3.49                                        Agree


1.50 – 2.49                                        Disagree


                        0 – 1.49                                              Strongly Disagree


 


  Sampling Design and Respondents

The general population for this study will be composed of the state pension beneficiaries in London.  The researcher will use a combination of stratified and systematic sampling.  First, the researcher will form different strata by treating each state pension beneficiary.  From within that stratum the researcher will get a sub-stratum which is the age bracket.  The researcher will ask for a list from the city government of London.  The researcher will choose randomly from the list as follows: the odd numbers excluding prime student from the list will be the respondents sampled for this study. 


 


Statistical Treatment of Data


After the questionnaires will be answered, the profile of the respondents will be taken, according to educational attainment, number of year in the workforce, public or private sector, income, marital status and family size.  To be able to get a general description of the profile of the respondents, the data coming from each item mentioned above will be placed in tabular form with the indicated percentage as well as the frequency.  This will show the predominant characteristics of respondents vis a vis the state pension that they actually get from the state.


The formulae that will be used in this study are the following:


 


1.     Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.


            n


% = ——– x 100        ;           n – number of responses


            N                                 N – total number of respondents


 


2.     Weighted Mean


 


            f1x1 + f2x2  + f3x3 + f4x4  + f5x5


x= ———————————————  ;


                        xt


 


where:            f – weight given to each response


                        x – number of responses


                                   xt – total number of responses


      


            The weighted mean scores for each item in the questionnaire will be determined.  


3.  t-test


To determine if the state pension system has a significant effect on the economic well-being and the satisfaction of the respondents based on the age, educational attainment, number of years in the workforce, public or private sector, income, marital status and number of children,  the t-test will be used.


            The researcher will use the SPSS to come up with the statistical analysis for this study.



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


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