3.

4 Sampling technique

The size of the population and the area covered was large. In order to best answer the research

question, the researcher utilized a combination of probability sampling (multistage random

sampling): cluster random sampling, a proportional stratified random sampling, systematic

random sampling and simple random sampling. The population within the cluster was

heterogenous. Each cluster was a small scale representation of the total population. Cluster

random sampling was used to reduce cost by increasing sampling efficiency. Main difference

between cluster random sampling and stratified random sampling, is that, in cluster random

sampling, cluster is treated as the sampling unit, so analysis is on a population of cluster. In

stratified random sampling, analysis is done to the element within the strata. In stratified

random sampling, a random sample is drawn from each of the strata (Coolican, 1999).

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Malaysia clusters the states in

Peninsular Malaysia into four zones: Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern. The cluster

random sampling at state level is displayed in the table 3-2.

Table 3-1: Cluster random sampling to select states

Northern zone Central zone Southern zone Eastern zone

Pulau Pinang Selangor Negeri Sembilan Pahang

Kedah Perak Johor Terengganu

Perlis Kuala Lumpur F. T Melaka Kelantan

Putrajaya F. T

*Source: Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Malaysia

State Education Departments, group the schools under the administration of the District

Education Offices. Cluster random sampling was employed by taking every second district

from the list provided by the State Education Department. This procedure is shown in Table 3-

3.
 Table 3-2: Cluster random sampling to select district

Pulau Pinang Perak Pahang Melaka

Seberang Prai Tengah Krian Lipis Alor Gajah

Barat Daya Manjung Temerloh Melaka Tgh

Seberang Prai Utara Kinta Selatan Kuantan Jasin

Timur Laut Hilir Perak Jerantut

Seberang Prai Selatan Kinta Utara Maran

Perak Tengah Bera

Kuala Kangsar Raub

Hulu Perak Rompin

Batang Padang Bentong

Larut/Matang/Selama Pekan

C. Highland

*Source: State Education Department websites (Pulau Pinang, Perak, Pahang & Melaka)

Stratified random sampling was used to select representative number of schools in

proportion to the number of target population in the states from the selected districts.

Systematic random sampling (every third school in the list selected) was employed to select

the number of schools determined, from the list of school names provided by EMIS data,

Ministry of Education Malaysia. At school level, simple random sampling was used by Head of

Science teachers since the researcher did not have access to the name list of science teachers

from each selected schools.

 Table 3-3: Target population according to selected states

Anticipated
Proportion respond
No. of No. of
of sample Sample rate
State target schools
from each size number
population involved
state (additional
40%)

Pulau
584 21.6 34 73 102
Pinang

Perak 1,095 40.5 64 136 192

Pahang 654 24.3 38 82 114

Melaka 368 13.6 22 46 66

Total 2701 100.0 158 337 474

∑ 𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 =
∑ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑠

2701
= 526
≈ 5 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠

In this study, sample size was determined using the value 2701 that is the number of science

teachers who represent the total target population according to states. Utilizing the Krejcie &

Morgan’s formula (Krejcie & Morgan, 1970), sample size is calculated as below.

𝑋 2 𝑁𝑃(1 − 𝑃)
𝑠= Whereby, s = sample size
𝑑2 (𝑁 − 1) + [𝑋 2 𝑃(1 − 𝑃)]
N = Identified population size (2701)
P = estimated population rating (0.5) as
this magnitude yields maximum sample.
d = degree of maximum accuracy (0.05)
X2= Chi-square value at 1 degree of freedom
(3.841)
 3.8412 (2701)(0.5)(1 − 0.5)
𝑠= = 336.45 ≈ 337 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠
0.052 (2701 − 1) + [(3.8412 )(0.5)(1 − 0.5)]

Literature mentioned that the norm for return rate in behaviorial sciences for individual

voluntary respondents using traditional mail was 60± 20 percent (Baruch, 1999). In anticipation

of this norm, 40% extra questionnaires were added to the above sample size. This measure is

important to minimize the impact of not only lost questionnaire but also number of unwilling

respondents. Therefore, the total number of questionnaires mailed were:

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 = [337 + (40% × 337)] ≈ 472

The maximum number of science teachers at lower secondary in each school as estimated

was five. However, it was more realistic to assume that a minimum of three science teachers

were teaching science in each school at lower secondary level. Using this value the number

of school to be involved in this study was determined.

472
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑦 = = 157.3 ≈ 158 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑠
3