POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 33

Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents and describes the research method, the population,

sample size, sampling technique, description of respondents, instrumentation,

data-gathering procedure, and statistical treatment that were utilized by the

researcher.

Method of Research

This study will use the quantitative approach employing descriptive analytical

research method. Descriptive method is designed for the investigator to gather

information about existing conditions. The main objective of this study is to

describe the nature of a situation as it exists at the time of the study and to explore

the causes of particular phenomena (Sevilla, 1990). According to Calderon and

Gonzales (1993), descriptive research may be defined as a purposive process of

gathering, analyzing, classifying, and tabulating data about prevailing conditions,

practices, beliefs, processes, trends, and cause – effect relationship and then

making adequate and accurate interpretation about such data. The survey method

is used when the researcher intends to gather a relatively limited data from a large

number of subjects. Survey studies are used to measure the existing phenomena

without inquiring into why it exists (Sevilla, 1990).  Only a sample or portion of the

population is involved if sample survey is used.

Population, Sample Size, and Sampling Technique

The population of First, Second, and Third Year Students at the Polytechnic

University of the Philippines College of Architecture is 424. The sample for this study was

computed through Slovin formula as indicated below.

  n = N / (1 + N e )

where

        n       is the computed number of samples

        N      is the total number population  

        e       is the margin of error (.05).  

n = 424 / [1 + 424 (.05) ]

n = 424 / [1 + 424 (.0025)]

n = 424 / (1 + 1.06)

n = 424 / 2.06

n = 206  

Using the formula, the computed sample is the outcome of the sampling

technique used. Quota Sampling was used in this study because there were

specific number of respondents that were chosen to answer the data. The subsets

of the strata are combined to form a random sample called stratified random

sampling. This sampling involves the division of a population into smaller groups

known as strata. They are formed based on members' shared attributes or

characteristics. In this study, the strata are the year Level and in the selection of

each subset, the researcher used this technique because the needed respondents
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES 35

were students of BS Architecture, 1st year to 3rd year students.

Description of Respondents

The chosen respondent of this study are the students of College of Architecture and

Fine Arts in Polytechnic University of the Philippines, specifically Bs Architecture Students.

The research will utilize 1 year to 3 year students. The number of inhabitants in this
st rd

research incorporates 424 BS Architecture students that is currently enrolled in SY 2016-

2017.

Table 1
Distribution of Respondents per Year
Year Population Percent Sample Size

1st 139 23.8 69

2nd 162 5.6 81

3rd             11.4 56

TOTAL 424 17.2 206

The BS Architecture students of PUP-CAFA has 139 freshmen,162 sophomores

and,123 juniors. With a total number of 424.

Research Instrument

For this study, the Questionnaire method was used. This method was used to

gather data from the selected students who have personal opinions or insights towards the

factors affecting the academic performance. Generally, responses to the questionnaire

were objectified and standardized and made the tabulation easy. The respondent filled out

the questionnaire at will and gave more accurate replies. To acquire the main objective of

this study 40-item questionnaires were distributed to the selected students of College of

Architecture and FIne Arts. Guided response type questions were used to guide the

respondents in making replies. There were 2 main parts: the profile and the main survey.

The respondent’s profile was recalled and supplied the information asked for and the

factors were answered according to the degree of judgement asked for.

Data-Gathering Procedure

The topic was proposed on February 24, 2017. The data for this research were

collected using a survey questionnaire. The survey was created using suitable questions

modified from related research and individual questions formed by the researchers. The

survey was comprised of 40 questions, which were related to the participant’s perception

regarding the factors affecting the academic performance of architecture students. In the

questionnaire, Likert scale was used to determine if the respondent agreed or disagreed in

a statement. After the professor validated the questionnaire, these were distributed to all

the Architecture students of Philippine University of the Philippines – Manila. The

researchers assured confidentiality of their survey sheets since the identities are not

important. The researchers also understood that people’s consciousness may also affect

their honesty and effectiveness in answering the survey, and so, the researchers gave

people the option of being anonymous. Participants were given time to respond and then

the researchers collected the surveys the next day. There were no incentives offered for

participating in the research.

The result were tallied and tabulated according to the frequency of item answered

by the participants. After the data tabulation, results were interpreted using various

statistical tools. The results of the technique used in the data gathering helped the

research team to arrive at the interpretation of the study.

Statistical Treatment of Data

The following statistics were used in analyzing the data. Percentage was used to

determine the portion or distribution of number of the following demographics: gender,

and family income.  A percentage is defined as a number represented as a fraction of 100.

Percentages are used to express numbers between zero and one. They are used for

comparing things and for ratios. The formula is “percentage is equal to value divided by

total value multiplied by one hundred.”

Pearson’s R Correlation was used to know the relationship of the variables: the

English proficiency levels and the academic performance.

The formula is:

This test is used to measure the strength of a linear association between two

variables, where the value r = 1s means a perfect positive correlation and the value r = -1

means a perfect negative correlation.

Where:

Range Verbal Interpretation

0.76 – 0.99 Very Strong

0.51 - 0.75 Strong

0.26 – 0.50 Moderate

0.11 – 0.25 Weak

0.01 – 0.10 Very Weak