Survey on Sample Sizes of Postgraduate Theses in Agricultural Education and Extension in Universities of Nigeria

The study focused on the representativeness of the sample sizes generated for populations under  study in survey studies in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Extension. The study was carried out in  Nigeria. A total of 4561 completed survey theses submitted to the Departments of Agricultural Education  and Agricultural Extension in federal universities in Nigeria for the award of various postgraduate degrees  between 2008 and 2018 were studied. The objectives of the study were to report the effect of sample  size on the confidence level and margin of error of the generated data and to determine the frequently  cited formula for generating sample sizes and their implications. The most frequently cited method for  generating sample sizes was reported. Findings further revealed the problems associated with using nonstatistical  methods to generate sample sizes. The study recommended the use of mathematically proven  formula in determining sample sizes in survey studies to generate statistically dependable, reliable and  generalizable data.