Research Design on workplace environment and organizational performance of public universities
The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive research design which is a process of
collection of data from members of a population in order to determine the current status of
the subject under study (Steffen, 2015). The cross-sectional descriptive research design
method was useful in exploring how workplace environment affect performance of Public
Universities since data from the respondents was used to determine the current status of the
subject under study with respect to the variables. It was an efficient approach of collecting
data and generalized the outcomes regarding characteristic of sample of a population, current
practices, conditions feelings and needs.
Target Population
The target population of the study consisted of 8 public universities in Mt. Kenya region.
Non-teaching employees employed on permanent terms in these Public Universities were used
in the study. Table 3.1 shows the Public Universities in Mt. Kenya region as well as the
population of the non-teaching staff.
Table 3. 1: Target Population
Universities Population of non-teaching staff
Dedan Kimathi University of Technology 150
Chuka University 250
Meru University of Science and Technology 103
Laikipia University 485
Karatina University 140
University of Embu 202
Kirinyaga University 140
Muranga University of Technology 147
Total 1647
Sampling Technique and Sample Size
The study used stratified multistage sampling technique to sample Public Universities and
non-teaching employees working in them. Multistage sampling refers to sampling plans where
the sampling is carried out in stages using smaller and smaller sampling units at each stage
(Bryman, 2015). The technique was chosen since each Public University had an equal chance
of being selected. Table 3.2 shows the sample size.
Table 3. 2: Sample Size
Universities Population Sample Percentage
Kirinyaga University 140 42 6.6
Muranga University of Technology 147 44 6.9
Meru University of Science and Technology 103 31 4.8
Chuka University 250 75 11.7
Total 640 192 30%
The first stage was sampling Public Universities and non-teaching employees which the study
used 50% of the universities and employees’ population since it could give good reliability of
the target population (William, 2013). At the second stage the researcher sampled 30% of
non-academic employees conveniently, in the sampled public universities to get the sample
size which was considered adequate for descriptive study (Cooper, & Schindler, 2014).
Data Collection Instruments
The data collection tool used was a questionnaire. The questionnaire had open-ended and
closed – ended questions which were self-administered and used by researcher to collect
primary data. The structured questions were used in an effort to save time and money as well
as to facilitate in easier analysis as they were in immediate usable form, while the
unstructured questions were used so as to encourage the respondent to give up in-depth and
felt response without feeling held back in revealing of any information. Likert scale was used
to rate responses for each variable.
Data Collection Procedure
The researcher administered the questionnaire to employees in the sampled Public
Universities. A total of one ninety-two questionnaires were administered through drop and
pick method. A research permit was sourced from National Commission for Science,
Technology & Innovation.
Pretesting of Instruments
Pretesting was carried out to enable the determination of the validity and reliability of the
research tools. The pretest was carried out in Laikipia University which was not used in the
sample size where nineteen questionnaires constituting 10% of the sample size were
administered to the employees (Mugenda & Mugenda, 2019).
Reliability
Cronbach Alpha Coefficient test was used to test the research instruments reliability on each
section. The items in the questionnaire were correlated through Cronbach Alpha Coefficient to
determine the correlation between the items. The threshold (cut off) point of 0.7 and above
was used (Griethuijsen et al., 2014) and (Sekaran, 2015). The Cronbach Alpha for the sections
were as follows: organizational performance .796, socio- demographic data .706, ergonomics
data .788, supervisor support data .723 and motivation data .704.
The study realized alpha (α) of 0.743, which showed the questionnaire was reliable. The
results are presented in Table 3.3.
Table 3. 3: Cronbach Alpha for reliability assessments
Section Cronbach's
Alpha
Cronbach's Alpha
Based on
Standardized Items
N of Items
Organizational
Performance
.796 .797 4
Socio-demographic
data
.706 .713 3
Ergonomics data .788 .788 4
Supervisor’s Support
data
.723 .726 4
Motivation data
Average
.704
.743
.700
. 745
5
4
Validity
To establish the content validity of the research instrument for this study, the researcher
sought opinions from lecturers working in the University of Embu, School of Business and
Economics. This enabled the necessary modification and revision of the research instrument
to enhance the validity.
Data Processing and Analysis
The data collected was checked to evade errors and ensure completeness and consistency. The
data was keyed in the computer to provide a background for investigation and analysis.
Analysis of quantitative data was carried out through descriptive statistics and presented
through frequencies, means, standard deviations and percentages by use of SPSS. The data
was then presented using tables. This was carried out by totaling responses, calculating
percentages of variations of responses and interpreting the data in agreement with the
objectives of the study.
Multiple linear regression model was used to establish the relationship between workplace
environment and organizational performance in Public Universities in Kenya. The model was
suitable because it was useful in predicting value of a variable based on value of two or more
other variables. The overall significance of the model was tested using analysis of variance by
use of F statistics at 95% confidence level while the coefficient of determination R2 was used
to show the contribution of independent variables on the dependent variable. The following
multiple linear regression model was used in the study Y= β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3X3 + ԑ
..............................................................................................................................Equation 3.1
Where:
Y= the organizational performance of public Universities in Kenya
β0= the Intercept constant
X1= Ergonomics
X2= Supervisor support
X3= motivation
β1 – β3 = the corresponding Coefficients of independent variables
ԑ= the Error term
Operationalization and Measurement of Study Variables
The operationalizing of a variable refers to how the study observed or measured each
variable the for the study. The operationalizing of a variable is as per the table 3.4 Table 3. 4:
Operationalization and Measurement of Study Variables
Variable Types of variables Indicators Measurement scale Type of
Statistical
Analysis
Ergonomics Independent Tools of
work
Office
layout
Physical
environment
Interval
scale by use
of Five
Point Likert
Scale
Open ended
questions
Correlation
analysis
Regression
analysis
Supervisor
support
Independent Conflict
management
Interpersonal
relations
Supervisor
guidance
Interval
scale by use
of Five
Point Likert
Scale
Open ended
questions
Correlation
analysis
Regression
analysis
Motivation Independent Extrinsic
motivation
Intrinsic
motivation
Interval
scale by use
of Five
Point Likert
Scale
Open ended
questions
Correlation
analysis
Regression
analysis
Organizational
performance
Dependent Service
delivery
Composite
score in
performance
contracting
Number of
self-
sponsored
student
Interval
scale by use
of Five
Point Likert
Scale
Open ended
questions
Correlation
analysis
Regression
analysis
