FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN MICRO ...

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
In this chapter the research design used, the data gathering methods and tools; sampling
and sampling procedures and the methods of data analysis are discussed very well.
3.1 Design of the study
A descriptive survey research design was employed in the study to assess the key factors
that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs in Dessie town. The reason
for using this design is that it enables to describe the different factors that affect the
performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs as they exist.
3.2 Population, sample and sampling techniques
The population of the study consisted of 2,026 women entrepreneurs who work in 5
sectors of MSEs. So as to get a reasonable sample size, a 95% level of confidence and a
6.5% confidence interval was used to select a sample of 203 Women entrepreneurs in
these MSEs. For selecting these samples of entrepreneurs, stratified sampling was used in
which the 5 key sectors that woman entrepreneurs are engaged was taken as strata so as
to give equal chance to each of the sectors. From each sector, 10% of women
entrepreneurs in MSEs were selected randomly using lottery method by taking list of
respondents from the MSE’s office.
For microfinance, MSE heads and TVET leaders, purposive sampling was used. Top
officials of these institutions (Dessie Micro finance manager, MSEs Core process owner,
and W/ro Siheen TVET dean) were purposely taken and interviewed since the researcher
believes that they know the condition better than others because of their day –to- day
contacts with women entrepreneurs.
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