The ability of this research technique to study a population through a sample in its natural setting is the rationale behind it’s use.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.0  Introduction

This chapter deals with the methodology of the study. It shows the various steps and procedures the researcher followed in collecting the data for the study. It is also concerned with the instrument used for data collected as well as methods used to analyse the data.
3.1 Research design

The method of research adopted for this study is the survey method. The ability of this research technique to study a population through a sample in its natural setting is the rationale behind it’s use. Asika 2008 states that the survey research design is appropriate when the researcher does not intend to manipulate or control the subjects.In the opinion of Ihejirika and Omego (2011), survey design involves the study of a sample taken from a population in order to know their major characteristics which can be generalized to the whole population.
3.2   Population of study

The population of the study is made up of adult male and female in Bille community. The Bille people have adopted the 1992 population census as the acceptable population of Bille following the unspecified nature of 2006 population census figures. In their view the 1992 population census was more specific than 2006 population census because the later only gave figures for the local government (Degema Local government area) and did not specify the population of the various communities that make up the local government of which Bille is part of. Based on this reason, the accepted 1992 population of the Bille people is12,830, the working population of this study is projected to 2015. Using the exponential growth rate formula,
pt + n= pt ^(r x n)Formula for exponential growth rate
Pt + n = Year of projection (2015)
Pt =   End point for computation rate of change ie the present population you are referencing.
1992 accepted population of Bille community which stands at 12,830
r = Rate of change computed.The rate of change for this study is derived from National         population census commission. According to them the growth rate in Nigeria between 1991 till 2015 is at 2.3.
n = Number of time/ period you are projecting towards, in the above study 1992 to 2015 =23 ie.
n = 23 years
ACTUAL CALCULATION
Pt + n = Pt ^r x n
= 12830 x [ ^(0.023 x 23) ]
= 12830 x 1.697234225
= 21,775.50736  
21,776

CROSS CHECK USING  ^ = 2.71828
Pt + n = Pt ^(r x n)
Where constant e = 2.71828
= 12830 x (2.71828) (0.023 x 23)
= 12830 x (2.71828)0.529
=12830 x 1.697233622
= 21775.50736     21,776
From the above calculation, the working population of this study is 21,776
3.3   Sample and sampling procedure

A sample, according to Jefkins and Yadin (1998), ‘means that proportion of the population or universe which is to be questioned’ (p.196). It is that segment of the population whose characteristics can be used to judge the whole. Sampling, on its own part, involves selecting a sub-set of people, cases, events etc. to be studied from a larger population to which they belong (Payne and Payne, 2004). A total of 381 formed the sample size for the study. This sample size was drawn using Philip Meyer’s population sampling procedure (Stacks and Hocking, 1992). With respect to the importance of representativeness for a research to be acceptable, Meyer proposes a population sampling table to assist researchers. The table as follows:

Population Size     Sample Size
Infinity 384
500,000 384
100,000                                                                       383
50,000                                                                         381
10,000                                                                         370
5,000                                                                           357
3,000                                                                           341
2,000                                                                           322
1,000                                                                           278
Source: Stacks and Hockings (1992).
For this research, the Non-probability sampling procedure will be adopted. This method was chosen from among many other sampling techniques because of the unstructured nature of the population. Unlike the probability sampling, this technique is most appropriate for this work because the researcher did not have access to the whole population. However, it produces very good data, providing information about the general characteristics of the population under study. The Non-probability sampling procedure type used for this research is the Convenience sampling as the researcher administer the research instrument to the available subjects.

3.4  Description of the measuring instrument
The instrument used for this study was the questionnaire containing open-ended questions with simple sentences for easy comprehension. The questions are aimed at assessing the respondent’s idea of the subject matter. It was divided into section A (demographic data; bio data of respondents) and B (psychographic data; answers to the research questions).

The main objective of the questionnaire is to determine the various aspects of the traditional modes of communication in Bille community and how they can play optimal roles in the development of the community.
3.5 Validity of the instrument

Validity of measuring instrument relates to the ability of the instrument to measure what it is supposed to measure. To achieve content validity the items in the questionnaire was submitted to the research supervisor for scrutiny, corrections and other necessary input.Further more a pre test was applied on ten percent of the sample size to check the validity of the questionnaire. The result of the pre test proved that the questionnaire was viable and can be administered to the larger population. The questions were understood and responded to accordingly by the all  38 respondent (10% of  the sample size).
3.6 Method of data collection

The questionnaire which was developed to collect data for the study, was administered personally to the subjects by the researcher. Some copies were filled and returned immediately, whereas others were returned after some time. Some assistance were used to enunciate  the questions to some respondents, because the researcher wanted to ensure that adequate explanation was given to the subjects who do not speak English to enable them fill the questionnaire properly.
3.7 Method of data analysis

The responses were analyzed and statistically presented. The simple statistical tool employed was percentages (%). The findings of the data will be broken down and ordered into constituent parts to enable the researcher to find out the percentage of the respondents who gave positive answers and those who gave negative answers.