research. Previously developed survey instruments are preferred for use because they carry reliability and validity tests
(Henderson, Morris, Carol & Fitz-Gibbon, 1987). Furthermore, no appropriate and comprehensive questionnaire on
culture could be found in the literature (Kiljander, 2004).
The lack of suitable standardized questionnaires to research
the influence of culture is a big problem (Renaud & Biljon,
2008). Therefore, the questions used on cultural dimensions
were adapted from Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (VSM
2008).
In the light of an exploratory study, two types of surveys
were developed: one for adopters and another for nonadopters of LMS. To get better responses from surveys, both
online and paper-based survey techniques were used.
Online Survey: In the online survey, based on their
adopters or non-adopter category, the participants were
moved automatically to their relevant survey questionnaire.
The online survey on Google was made available at http://
goo.gl/forms/TSXOQKFMvh for the instructors to fill their
responses. The data collection through on-line format offers
many advantages over other formats. It is an efficient and
fast way to reach a relatively large number of instructors in
various institutes. Internet surveys reduce time and costs
substantially. Another advantage is that using an Internet
survey, there is no need for ‘data entry, and coding’ because
the data were entered by the participants and responses are
automatically saved in an electronic format (Sills & Song,
2002). One of the limitations pointed out by Dillman (2000),
is the limited access to the computer or internet, varying
degrees of computer literacy are common concerns of using
online surveys. This limitation is not the barrier in this study
because the sample includes instructors with the necessary
computer skills, daily access to the Internet and e-mail.
Paper-based Survey: The researcher also used a personally administrated, paper-based survey to increase the
response rate. Bell (1993) argued that “the research instrument is merely the tool to enable you to gather data, and it is
important to select the best tool for the job” (p. 66). This
strategy works well and increases the response rate. The
personalized email reminders were also sent to enhance the
response rate. Some researchers argue that the data collection process is a challenging job. One of the main reasons is
the resistance to surveys and interviews (Taylor & Todd,
1995) probably due to lack of time or lack of interest.
Therefore, in the presence of the resistance, every possible
effort must be made to improve the response rate.
Pilot Study: Many researchers suggest that a pilot study
should be carried out before starting on the main data collection. The results and findings of the pilot study can be
used to improve not only the survey instrument but also in
improving the measures for sampling and data collection.
According to Baker (1994), a pilot study is a trial study
Table 6.3 Table for determining
sample size
Table for determining sample size for a given population
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
10
10
100
80
280
160
800
260
2800
338
15
14
110
86
290
165
850
265
3000
341
20
19
120
92
300
169
900
269
3500
246
25
24
130
97
320
175
950
274
4000
351
30
28
140
103
340
181
1000
278
4500
351
35
32
150
108
360
186
1100
285
5000
357
40
36
160
113
380
181
1200
291
6000
361
45
40
180
118
400
196
1300
297
7000
364
50
44
190
123
420
201
1400
302
8000
367
55
48
200
127
440
205
1500
306
9000
368
60
52
210
132
460
210
1600
310
10000
373
65
56
220
136
480
214
1700
313
15000
375
70
59
230
140
500
217
1800
317
20000
377
75
63
240
144
550
225
1900
320
30000
379
80
66
250
148
600
234
2000
322
40000
380
85
70
260
152
650
242
2200
327
50000
381
90
73
270
155
700
248
2400
331
75000
382
95
76
270
159
750
256
2600
235
100000
384
Note “N” is population size
“S” is sample size
Source Krejcie and Morgan (1970)
6.5 Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis
55
(Henderson, Morris, Carol & Fitz-Gibbon, 1987). Furthermore, no appropriate and comprehensive questionnaire on
culture could be found in the literature (Kiljander, 2004).
The lack of suitable standardized questionnaires to research
the influence of culture is a big problem (Renaud & Biljon,
2008). Therefore, the questions used on cultural dimensions
were adapted from Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (VSM
2008).
In the light of an exploratory study, two types of surveys
were developed: one for adopters and another for nonadopters of LMS. To get better responses from surveys, both
online and paper-based survey techniques were used.
Online Survey: In the online survey, based on their
adopters or non-adopter category, the participants were
moved automatically to their relevant survey questionnaire.
The online survey on Google was made available at http://
goo.gl/forms/TSXOQKFMvh for the instructors to fill their
responses. The data collection through on-line format offers
many advantages over other formats. It is an efficient and
fast way to reach a relatively large number of instructors in
various institutes. Internet surveys reduce time and costs
substantially. Another advantage is that using an Internet
survey, there is no need for ‘data entry, and coding’ because
the data were entered by the participants and responses are
automatically saved in an electronic format (Sills & Song,
2002). One of the limitations pointed out by Dillman (2000),
is the limited access to the computer or internet, varying
degrees of computer literacy are common concerns of using
online surveys. This limitation is not the barrier in this study
because the sample includes instructors with the necessary
computer skills, daily access to the Internet and e-mail.
Paper-based Survey: The researcher also used a personally administrated, paper-based survey to increase the
response rate. Bell (1993) argued that “the research instrument is merely the tool to enable you to gather data, and it is
important to select the best tool for the job” (p. 66). This
strategy works well and increases the response rate. The
personalized email reminders were also sent to enhance the
response rate. Some researchers argue that the data collection process is a challenging job. One of the main reasons is
the resistance to surveys and interviews (Taylor & Todd,
1995) probably due to lack of time or lack of interest.
Therefore, in the presence of the resistance, every possible
effort must be made to improve the response rate.
Pilot Study: Many researchers suggest that a pilot study
should be carried out before starting on the main data collection. The results and findings of the pilot study can be
used to improve not only the survey instrument but also in
improving the measures for sampling and data collection.
According to Baker (1994), a pilot study is a trial study
Table 6.3 Table for determining
sample size
Table for determining sample size for a given population
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
N
S
10
10
100
80
280
160
800
260
2800
338
15
14
110
86
290
165
850
265
3000
341
20
19
120
92
300
169
900
269
3500
246
25
24
130
97
320
175
950
274
4000
351
30
28
140
103
340
181
1000
278
4500
351
35
32
150
108
360
186
1100
285
5000
357
40
36
160
113
380
181
1200
291
6000
361
45
40
180
118
400
196
1300
297
7000
364
50
44
190
123
420
201
1400
302
8000
367
55
48
200
127
440
205
1500
306
9000
368
60
52
210
132
460
210
1600
310
10000
373
65
56
220
136
480
214
1700
313
15000
375
70
59
230
140
500
217
1800
317
20000
377
75
63
240
144
550
225
1900
320
30000
379
80
66
250
148
600
234
2000
322
40000
380
85
70
260
152
650
242
2200
327
50000
381
90
73
270
155
700
248
2400
331
75000
382
95
76
270
159
750
256
2600
235
100000
384
Note “N” is population size
“S” is sample size
Source Krejcie and Morgan (1970)
6.5 Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis
55