Chapter III:
METHODOLOGY
• The Research Method - refers to the type of technique
suited to carry out the investigation of the problem. It is
the procedure of careful investigation employing an
instrument to gather for building knowledge which
provides answer to a problem.
Method or Methodology?
• Method simply a technique used by the
researcher to gather and generate data
about the subjects of the study.
• Focus: Practical implementation and
actions.
• Methodology is the principle of employing procedures in
conducting a research or empirical investigation.
• It is also called the logic of investigation because its
purpose is the process by which the knowledge is formed
rather than the establishment of knowledge on a particular
problem. It explains why specific methods are chosen and
how they align with the research goals and philosophical
assumptions.
Research Design
• Is a plan that structures a study to ensure that
the data collected and generated will contain
the information needed to answer the initial
inquiry as fully and clearly as possible.
• A research design is a detailed framework or
blueprint that guides the entire process of a
research study.
TYPES OF SUBJECT
1. RESPONDENTS- are those responding and
participating in the process. Providing specific
information or responses to predefined queries.
2. INFORMANTS- : Individuals who offer detailed
information, often about their community, culture, or
specialized knowledge, to help researchers
understand a specific context.
TYPES OF SUBJECT
3. PARTICIPANTS- A broader, inclusive term for
individuals who actively engage in a study, often
contributing through a range of activities such as
interviews, focus groups, or experiments.
subject- The individual, object, or entity being
studied or observed in research. Can include
humans, animals, plants, or inanimate objects. In
ethical research involving humans, subjects are
often referred to as participants.
population- a group of persons or objects that possess
some common characteristics that are of interest to the
researcher.
Variables- What is being measured, controlled, or
manipulated in the research
Types of Variables
Independent The factor is manipulated or categorized to
Variable (IV): observe its effect on the dependent variable.
Example: Type of fertilizer applied to crops.
Dependent The outcome or effect being measured.
Variable (DV) Example: Crop yield.
Controlled Factors kept constant to ensure reliable results.
Variables Example: Soil type and sunlight in the crop study.
Extraneous Uncontrolled factors that may affect results.
Variables Example: Unexpected rainfall.
Description of Sampling Procedure
Probability sampling or scientific sampling
a type of sampling which all the members of an
entire population have chance of being selected.
Nonprobability sampling or non-scientfic
sampling a type of sampling wherein not all
members of the entire population are given a
chance of being selected as a sample.
SAMPLING
TECHNIQUE
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Simple Random Every individual in the population has an equal
Sampling chance of being selected.
Example: Drawing names from a hat.
Stratified The population is divided into subgroups (strata)
Sampling based on specific characteristics (age, gender), and
samples are taken proportionally or equally from
each group.
Example: Selecting equal numbers of male and
female participants from a population.
Systematic Selects every nth individual from a list after choosing
Sampling a random starting point.
Example: Surveying every 10th customer entering a
store.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Simple Random Every individual in the population has an equal
Sampling chance of being selected.
Example: Drawing names from a hat.
Stratified The population is divided into subgroups (strata)
Sampling based on specific characteristics (age, gender), and
samples are taken proportionally or equally from
each group.
Example: Selecting equal numbers of male and
female participants from a population.
Systematic Selects every nth individual from a list after choosing
Sampling a random starting point.
Example: Surveying every 10th customer entering a
store.
PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Cluster The population is divided into clusters, often
Sampling geographically, and entire clusters are
randomly selected.
Example: Selecting random schools from a
region and surveying all students in those
schools.
Multistage Combines two or more sampling methods, often
Sampling starting with cluster sampling and then using
simple random or stratified sampling within
clusters.
Example: Randomly selecting districts, then
schools, and then students.
NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Convenience Participants are chosen based on their
Sampling availability and proximity.
Example: Interviewing people at a mall
because they are nearby.
Purposive Participants are selected based on specific
Sampling characteristics or criteria relevant to the
(Judgmental research.
Sampling) Example: Choosing only experienced
teachers for a study on teaching methods.
NON-PROBABILITY SAMPLING
Quota Sampling Researchers ensure that specific subgroups are
represented by setting quotas but use non-random
selection.
Example: Selecting 50 males and 50 females for a
study, regardless of randomness.
Snowball Existing participants recruit other participants from among
Sampling their acquaintances, often used in hard-to-reach
populations.
Example: Studying a network of drug users through
referrals.
Voluntary Participants self-select to be part of the study, often
Sampling through advertisements or open invitations.
Example: Online surveys where individuals opt to
participate.
D. Data Collection is the process of gathering and
measuring information on variables of interest, in an
established systematic fashion that enables one to answer
stated research questions and evaluate outcomes.
Research Instruments - pertains to the tools or
devices employed by the researcher to gather information
to answer the problems posed in the study.
Forms of Instruments:
A. Survey or
Questionnaire (Q-data)
- the most common
instrument in collecting data
particularly in quantitative
research. Consists of
questions to be answered by
checking or by writing the
answers.
Types of questions
1. Yes or No type. Items are answerable by yes
or no.
example:
a. Do call center agents have the
right to refuse calls? ( ) Yes ( ) No
2. Recognition type. fixed alternative answers are
already provided, the respondents simply choose
from the given choices. it contain close-ended
questions.
example: Educational qualification
_____Elementary school graduate ____College graduate
_____High School graduate ____MA/PhD
_____Technical/vocational ____Others (pls. specify)
school graduate
B. Unstructured questionnaire- questions are
open-ended, no options are provided and the
respondents are free to answer however they wish.
Solicits personal views on specific questions about
the problem. These opinions reflect the beliefs of the
respondents.
C. Attitude Scale - assign to get the
attitude or feeling of the respondents on
some issues or views to the problem being
scaled.
types of attitude scale: RESPONSES SYMBOLS
a.Likert Scale by Likert, Strongly SA
1932- common scaling agree
technique which consist of Agree A
several declarative statement Disagree D
that express a viewpoint on the Strongly SD
topic. the answers usually come disagree
in the acronyms. Uncertain U
example: scale that measures attitudes towards
the ban of celphones in school.
ITEMS SA A D SD
a. There would be difficulty in
contacting my parents.
b. I will be able to concentrate
my time in listening
b.Semantic Differential Scale by C.E. Osgood, 1957.
the respondents are asked the rate concepts on a series of
bipolar adjectives. the advantages of using this is that it is
flexible and easy to construct.
example: Description of school librarian
Competent 5 4 3 2 1 incompetent
Punctual not punctual
pleasant Unpleasant
D. Interview/Oral Questionnaire - are
conversation that are designed to obtain specific kind of
information.
Interview Procedures and Skills:
In preparation, a researcher should either prepare a
simple outline of topics he wishes to cover in the interview
to be used as a research guide if the respondents seems to
be changing direction from the topic.
Setting of the interview should allow the respondent to be
at ease.
The researcher must decide how
to record the interview.
Once the interview begins, the
researcher should try to establish a
friendly connection with the
respondent.
Questions should generally be
open-ended, giving the respondent
ample room to discuss the topic.
Types of interview:
1.Face-to-face Interviews - interviewing in
person.
Advantages:
a.Researcher has control over the physical environment.
b.Researcher can record spontaneous answers.
c.Researcher knows exactly who is answering.
d.Researcher can make sure the interview is complete and all
questions has been asked.
Disadvantage:
Sometimes, face-to-face interviews prove to be
too expensive and too time-consuming.
2. Group interview - Consists of a groups of
people (6-10 ideally) whose opinions that the researcher
would like to know may be somewhat less structured.
Often sparks debate and conversation, yielding lots of great
information about the group’s opinion.
2 types of group interview:
1.focus groups- participants in a focus group
are selected by the researcher according to
specific sampling criteria.
2. natural groups- the participants belong to a
group that exists independently of the study.
FORMS OF INTERVIEW
1. Structured Interview - the same questions in
the same order are asked of everyone, with
relatively little room for wandering off the topic.
2. Unstructured Interview - more relaxed and
more like a conversation than a formal interview.
this can being a form of normal conversation or
freewheeling exchange of ideas.
3.Semi-structured Interview - there are specific
set of questions but there are also additional
follow-up questions that are not included in the list
of original qustions. through this process, the
researcher can gather additional data from a
respondent that may add significance to the
findings.
Interview Skills:
1. Be in the moment.
-The interviewer must relax his mind and mentally prepare for
an hour of concentration, observation, and alertness.
2. Build a connection.
-Connecting with the participant at the beginning of the
interview.
-Planning how the interviewer will open each session and what
he will say to make the participants comfortable.
3. Control body language.
-Be conscious of the body language displayed
through face, arms, hands, upper body, feet,
and legs.
-Be aware of any cultural differences in body
language.
For example: How acceptable is it to touch
another person to show friendliness.
4. Read Participants’ body language.
5. Listen actively.
-Be a good listener and give require
measured responses.
6. Keep it together.
E. Observation
An instrument for
collecting field data which
requires personal
witnessing of the
researcher about the
behavior and activities of
the subjects or
respondents.
Reasons for collecting observation data:
1.When the nature of the research question to be answered is
focused on answering a “how” or “what” type of question.
2.When the topic is relatively unexplored and little is known to
explain the behavior of people in a particular setting.
3.When understanding the meaning of a setting in a detailed
way is valuable.
4.When it is important to study a phenomenon in its natural
setting.
Types of Observation:
1)Naturalistic or Direct Observation - the
researcher personally visits the area where the data are
freshly obtained or recorded which are free from manipulation
of the observed phenomena.
Direct observation can be overt, when the subject and
individuals in the environment know the purpose of the
observation;
covert, when the subjects and the individuals in the
environment are unaware of the purpose of the observation.
Skills of Direct Observer:
a.Effective note taking.
b.Organizing video and audio recording.
c.Mapping out illustrations or drawings in relation to
people’s behavior.
2)Systematic Observation - controlled
observation that can be conducted either in the
laboratory or in the field. It becomes systematic
when the set of procedures are systematically
applied and prepared schedules are strictly
followed.
