The role of informal microfinance institutions in saving

among variables such as the support measures and the end users, in this case, the SACCOs. The
research environment was the field conditions which were the operating environment of the
various subsystems identified in the conceptual model.
Two survey methods including questionnaires and interviews were used because the
respondents have diverse background. Interviews were used to obtain information from
SACCO’s managers, government institutions, non-governmental organizations, business
development service providers and international organizations that provide support to
SACCOs.
Questionnaires were used to obtain information from commercial banks, development finance
institutions, research institutions as well as owners of SACCOs. The limited number of business
support including Chief Executives.
The goal of a formal research design is to test the hypothesis or answer the research question
posed (Cooper and Schindler, 2001). The research design therefore, expresses both the
structure of the research problem and the plan of investigation used to obtain empirical
evidence on relations of the problem (Deming, 1960).
3.1.3: Structure of Questionnaire
The questionnaire is recognized as an important method of quantitative data collection and
therefore, attempt was made to design it in a way as to capture accurate data and high
response rate. In designing the questionnaire, it was assumed that the respondents who are
major stakeholders in providing supports to SACCOs as well as the beneficiaries (i.e. SACCOs
themselves). Were sufficiently informed on the subject matter.
The questionnaire was therefore designed in such way as to elicit responses from scientists and
researchers in public research and development institutions, senior personnel in the banking
industry and managers and owner’s of SACCOs.
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