SOCIOLOLINGUISTIC SURVEYS - Centre for Language Studies

espondents’ level of competence in Chilomwe.
It has to be mentioned that some data were collected through observation and literature
survey. The researchers were equipped with notepads in which they recorded any
relevant sociolinguistic observations. These observations were done during both official
working and off duty hours.
5.4.3 DATA COLLECTORS
The data collection exercise was done by a team comprising four principal researchers
and eight research assistants. The eight research assistants, whose minimum qualification
was a Malawi School Certificate of Education, were trained in the use of the
questionnnaire. They were briefed adequately on the survey’s aims and objectives. Each
of thr research assistant were native speakers of Chilomwe.
5.4.4 DATA ANALYSIS
The data were edited, coded and then entered in a computer. The SPSS was used tio
analyse the dta. Frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations were done for all the
categories of respondents, namely pupils, teachers, parents/guardians, and the “others”.
5.4.5 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE SURVEY
The major problem was that the survey was conducted at a time when schools were
closed for the long vacation. Getting teachers was a problem since not all teachers live
nearby schools. The majority of the teachers live in rented houses far away from schools.
Getting parents/guardians and pupils as respondents was, however, not difficult. The
second problem was that since the survey was conducted during a crop growing season,
some responents were reluctant to temporarily abandon their garden tasks and talk to the
researchers. A related problem is that given that the survey was conducted in the rain
season, some earth roads proved to be impassable, even with the availability of 4 wheeel
drive vehicles. A case in point is Chiringa area in Phalombe which was never surveyed
due to heavy rains which rendered the roads impassable. Related to this is the presence
of bad terrain which made travelling difficult. One example is that of Molere and
Thekerani areas which were not fully covered due to inaccessibility of certain parts.
In some cases, the research team was mistakenly identified as a government group
responsible for distrributing free seed and fertiliser to local communities. In such a case,
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