Chapter 2
METHOD
In this chapter, the researchers present the methods and the procedures
applied in this study. The following are discussed in details: research design,
respondents, sampling design, research instruments, data gathering procedure, data
analysis, and ethical considerations.
Research Design
This section presents and discusses the research design used in the study.
Polit and Hungler (2000) described the research design as a "blueprint" or "outline"
for conducting the study in such a way that maximum control will be exercised over
factors that could interfere with the validity of the research. The research design is the
researcher's collective procedures for attaining results for the suggested hypothesis.
McCombes (2018) also stated that research design is a framework for study
planning and answering questions about the study. It sets the project's parameters. It
describes the criteria by which your outcomes will be evaluated and how the
conclusions are drawn. The study's reliability and validity rely on how the information
is collected, measured, analyzed, and interpreted. Given the objectives of the study,
the statement of the problem, and the scope and limitations of the study, a
correlational research design had been chosen.
The study made used of a non-experimental research design utilizing a
comparative and correlational research analysis. Non-experimental surveys are
usually strictly observational and the findings are designed to be solely descriptive.
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Most non-experimental designs are retrospective in nature and are sometimes
referred to as "ex post facto" (after reality) studies. Because a retrospective study is
examining operations that have already happened, it is not feasible to manipulate
independent variables and randomize them. In fact, the dependent variable (i.e. the
result) happened prior to the initiation of the research (Thompson & Panacek, 2007).
Comparative research seeks to achieve conclusions beyond single instances
and explains differences and similarities between objects of study and connections
between objects in the context of their contextual circumstances (Esser & Vliegenthart,
2017). A latest synthesis by Esser and Hanitzsch (2012) found that comparative
communication research includes a comparison of at least two macro-level instances
(systems, cultures, markets or their sub-elements) in which at least one object of
inquiry is important to the field of communication. While correlational research
describes what exists at the moment (conditions, practices, processes, structures,
etc.). It aimed to determine the nature, degree and direction relationships between
variables or using these relationships to make predictions (Creswell, 2002).
Bold (2001) observed that a correlation study aims to determine whether two
or more variables are linked. Also, Creswell (2002) described correlation as a
statistical test for two variables to create trends. The statistical analysis of the research
question can be carried out through a progression or sequence of analyses using a
normal correlation test that generates an outcome called "r." In a method known as
the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, the r coefficient is recorded with a decimal
number (Cooper & Schindler, 2001).
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With those definitions, the proponents aim to understand the relationship
between socio-economic status and socialization of senior high school students. This
design will help the proponents understand the study in a holistic view, therefore
making them better comprehend and make conclusions about the research.
Respondents
This section discusses the respondents of the study and the criteria for
choosing them. This section also demonstrates the sample size of the respondents
and the process of arriving in it.
The researchers, considered the senior high school students of Davao City
National High School to participate in our study. They were the chosen respondents
because their generation is dependent on socializing by groups. Moreover, according
to Myers & Sadaghiani (2010), millennial depict as self-centered, unmotivated,
disrespectful, and disloyal, contributing to widespread concern about how
communication with Millennials will affect organizations and how they developed
relationships with other organizational members (Myers & Sadaghiani, 2010).
Besides, in choosing them the researchers used seven income groups
including the middle class, based on multiples of the country's official poverty lines.
The middle class pertains to those with annual per capita income between two and
fifteen times the official poverty lines – equivalent to a monthly indicative family income
ranging between PHP 15,780 to PHP 118,350 as our criteria to identify if they are fit
to be our respondents (Albert et. al. 2015).
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Determining the sample size is significant because the fact that samples are
too large is a waste of time and money, while samples that are too small may lead to
wrong outcomes. According to Krejcie & Morgan (2004), the ever-increasing demand
for research has created a need for an efficient method of determining the sample size
needed to be representative of a given population.
For this study, a 95% level of confidence had to be determined to know the
resources like time availability and finance. It is evident that to attain a level of
confidence of at least 95 percent, keeping in mind the complete population of senior
high school learners (2206 in the 2019 school office) at Davao City National High
School. It is also essential to note that the complete number of senior high school
learners in Grade 11 as of 2019 is 1031 and the number of Grade 12 learners is 1175.
For the proponents to obtain the number of samples needed, the formula of the
Pearson Correlation Coefficient: Sample formula
x2 𝑁𝑃(1−𝑃)
𝑆 𝑑2 (𝑁−1)+𝑥 2 𝑃(1−𝑃) is applied, where N is the total population, x is the chi-square
value of 1.96, P is the population proportion of 0.05 and is the degree of accuracy
which is 0.05. Executing the said formula, the total sample size for the number of
learners participating in the research was determined to be 327 senior high school
students who were given primary data collection questionnaires but the actual sample
size is innovated to 50 as instructed to us.
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Sampling Design
This section presents and discusses the sampling design used in the study.
According to Lavrakas (2008), a sampling design is a structure, or road map, which
serves as the basis for a survey sample selection and impacts many other significant
elements of a study. Survey scientists are interested in acquiring some sort of data in
a wide context through a survey of interest to some population, or universe. A
sampling frame must be defined that reflects the interest population from which a
sample must be taken. The sampling frame may be the same as the population, or it
may only be part of it and is therefore subject to some under coverage, or it may have
an indirect relationship with the population.
Crossman (2019) defines the stratified random sample as a sampling technique
in which the investigator splits the entire target population into various subgroups or
strata and then selects the final topics proportionally from the various strata. This sort
of sampling is used when subgroups within the population are highlighted by the
investigator. The sampling area is spatially subdivided into distinct strata in stratified
random sampling, and random sampling is applied to each stratum. If the study region
has previous data, it can be used to create the strata.
Strata may be sampled equally or in proportion to the area; however, if the
target of interest is rare in the population, it may be preferable to sample the strata
equally (Franklin and Miller, 2009). Stratified random sampling is used instead of
simple random sampling when the categories of the strata are thought to be two
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distinct and too important to the research interest, and/or when investigators wish to
oversample a particularly small group of interest (Agresti & Finlay, 2008).
The sample size was distributed by following the given formula. First, the
overall total population of senior high school students is added and solved. Second,
the total population from each strand is also added and solved. Third, the total
population by strand is divided by the overall total population of senior high school
students and is then multiplied by 100. After that, the percentage of population by
each strand will be the sum of it. Lastly, the percentage of population by each strand
is multiplied by 50% which results to the sample size for each strand and is divided by
2 for Grade 11 and 12 and again divided by 2 for male and female. When all summed
up the total number of respondents was 327 which is the sample size.
Distribution Table of Sample Size
Groupings Population Percentage No. of
Respondents
Accountancy and 685 31.05% 101
Business Management
Arts & Design 91 4.12% 13
Humanities and Social 376 17.04% 56
Sciences
Science, Technology, 300 13.6% 46
Engineering, and
Mathematics
Technical-Vocational- 754 34.2% 111
Livelihood
Total 2,206 100% 327
Each respondent is a senior high school student of Davao City National High
School. The table shows the groupings, population and sample size of the survey
conducted. It shows how the actual sample size which is 327 was distributed. Through
the use of stratified random sampling, the sample size is distributed to each strand
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accordingly. A total of 101 students from Accountancy and Business Management
strand. A total of 13 students from Arts & Design strand. While for Humanities and
Social Sciences strand there are a total of 56 students. In Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics strand there are a total of 46 students, For the
Technical-Vocational-Livelihood strand, there are a total of 111 students.
However, the researchers are instructed to innovate the sample size and due
to the lack of resources and time the actual sample size which is 327 was innovated
to 50. It takes a lot of time as the bigger sample size is distributed in the way the
population is distributed and therefore gathering information from the whole sample
will take a lot of time compared to lower sample sizes. The expenditure engaged in
the information collection method is also greater than the expenditure that could be
incurred in a tiny sample size due to its wider coverage (Bacchetti, 2002).
This innovated sample size is then distributed to all the strands with a total of
16 students from Accountancy and Business Management strand. A total of 2 students
from Arts & Design strand. While for Humanities and Social Sciences strand there are
a total of 9 students. In Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand
there are a total of 6 students. For the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood strand, there
are a total of 17 students.
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Research Instruments
This section presents and discusses the research instrument used in the study.
Walliman (2011) stated that research instruments are tools that researchers conduct
while carrying out any inquiry or investigation. Various instruments can be used to
manage numerous investigations (Wallman, 2011; Cohen et al. 2007). It is the duty of
the researcher to select the most suitable tool for this research (Wilkinson &
Birmingham, 2002). Meanwhile, according to Joppe (2000), validity determines
whether the study specifically measures that which it was designed to evaluate or how
accurate the findings of the study are, while reliability is the extent which the findings
are clear and consistent over time and the accuracy of the overall population.
The research instrument used in this study is the survey questionnaire form
from which the researchers adopted this technique. The said instrument used to
explore the connection between students' socio-economic status and how it
influenced their socialization abilities. The test was composed of 18 survey questions
and was administered to senior high school students respectively, and was collected
after they had been filled by the respondents. Before the distribution of questionnaires
to the actual respondents the researchers conduct a pilot testing 10 each per strand.
After the pilot testing the revision of questionnaire follows eliminating the questions
which has below .7 Cronbach’s alpha if item deleted.
The first set of questionnaires is constructed from Albert, Santos & Vizmanos
(2018) journal entitled "Profile and Determinants of the Middle-Income Class in the
Philippines" which is set to determine the socio-economic status of the selected
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respondents and is part of the demographic profile of students. It is composed of
seven choices ranging from Php 7,890 to 157,800 per month of parent's income. The
second set of the questionnaire is adapted from Cohen & Hoberman (1983) which is
set to determine how socio-economic status affects students' socialization.
All answers are given on a 4-point scale where 1 is Definitely False, 2 is
Probably False, 3 is Probably True and 4 is Definitely True. The adapted questionnaire
in determining the level of socialization of senior high school students has a .867
Cronbach's Alpha while the Cronbach's Alpha we got from the reliability testing
through Statistical Package for Social Sciences is .701 which concludes that the
survey questionnaire is reliable.
According to Saunders et al., (2003) it is necessary to pay attention to validity
and reliability to decrease the likelihood of receiving inaccurate responses. The issue
of validity is whether the results are really about what they seem to be about (Saunders
et al., 2003). Validity defined as the degree to which the method or techniques of
information collection measure properly what was expected to be measured. Steps
were taken to guarantee the validity of this study. The information required was
gathered in the format of a structured questionnaire intended based on innovation
adoption literature. Pre-tested the questionnaires. A questionnaire pilot test was
performed (Saunders et al., 2003).
The survey questionnaires were validated by experts in the field which was
carefully chosen to assure that all our questions were free from any grammatical
errors, are friendly, does not try to invade personal space of the respondents and
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answers the research questions of our study. As Tapia (2018) proposes, that the
researchers should ask an editor or validator to correct and check the questions and
if there are any questions they would like to add to the list.
The following scale is the foundation for the assessment and interpretation of
the level of socio-economic status and socialization. It consists of three (3) levels,
depending on their scale and having their own description and interpretation.
Ordered Intervals of Senior High School Student’s Socio-economic Status Level
Scale Descriptive Interpretation
equivalent
0-2.33 Low class Parents are earning less than Php 7,890
or between Php 7,890 to Php 15,780 per
month.
2.34-4.67 Middle class Parents are earning between Php 7,890
to Php 118,350 per month.
4.68- 7.01 High class Parents are earning Between Php
118,350 to Php 157,800 per month.
Table above provides the scale of senior high school students' socio-economic
status. It demonstrates and explains the descriptive equivalent of each scale. The
researchers are attempting to assess the level of socio-economic status acquired by
senior high school students in this research.
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Ordered Intervals of Senior High School Student’s Socialization Level
Scale Descriptive Interpretation
Equivalent
He/she is not capable to learn to be a
member of a group or society and
0-1.33 Poor incorporate new members into social
groups.
He/she is capable to learn to be a
member of a group or society and
1.34-2.67 Fair incorporate new members into social
groups.
He/she is highly capable to learn to be a
member of a group or society and
2.68-4.01 Excellent incorporate new members into social
groups.
Table 3 above shows the socialization scale of senior high school students. It
demonstrates and explains the descriptive equivalent of each scale. The researchers
are attempting to assess the level of socialization acquired by senior high school
students in this research.
This study aimed to determine the relationship between socio-economic status
and socialization. The information below displays the equivalence of the r values and
its interpretation.
Correlation Values Interpretation
±0.91 to ±1.00 Very Strong
±0.71 to ±0.90 High
±0.41 to ±0.70 Moderate
±0.21 to ±0.40 Small but definite relationship
±0.00 to ±0.20 Slight, almost negligible
According to Ganti (2019), the coefficient of correlation is a statistical measure
that calculates the power of the connection between the relative movements of the
two variables. Values range from -1.0 to 1.0. There is slight, almost negligible
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relationship between the two variables if the correlational value lies from ±0.00 to
±0.20. On the other hand, if the correlational value falls from ±0.21 to ± 0.40, there is
a small but definite relationship. If it lies from ±0.41 to ±0.70, the relationship indicates
a moderate correlation. But, if the value falls from ±0.71 to ±0.90 there is a high
relationship. Lastly, there is a very strong positive or negative relationship between
two variables if the correlational value varies from ±0.91 to ±1.00.
Data Gathering Procedure
This section elaborates the procedures done in gathering the data. The
researcher applied the methods of data collection techniques. This was done to collect
adequate and relevant data to address the research objectives of this study.
Nonetheless, the researcher used quantitative research method. The researchers had
spent enough time and effort to conduct the study in determining the effects of socio-
economic status in socialization among the senior high school students to ascertain if
there is a significant relationship between the two variables. As for our study, we made
sure the result is valid and accurate to establish better understanding of socio-
economic status affecting the interactions of the students towards there co-peers. The
following procedures observed in gathering the data.
Asking Permission from the School Head to Conduct the Study. The
school administration allows us to have Senior High School students as respondents.
The approval was granted; therefore, student participants will complete the survey in
a classroom or other quiet setting in the school site. The researcher will develop and
prepare the instruments to be used by the respondents.
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Asking Permission from the Respondents to Conduct the Study. We
humbly asked the participation of the respondent through informed consent. The
researchers made sure that the respondent has voluntarily participated and not by
force. The findings of the survey will be pooled for the operation of the study and the
findings of this research will stay completely confidential and anonymous.
Drafting of the Schedule. Schedules were drawn up to accommodate the
different operations of the college and to observe the limitation that no interruptions of
courses should be permitted in the behavior of the research. Schedules were
completed and performed every after class between 3:45-4:45 PM in 5 successive
days.
Administering the Questionnaires. The researchers made sure that the
adopted questionnaires are in line with the study. The only relevant question is asked
during the conduct to ensure the result of the study. Questionnaires are check and
validated by the professionals.
Retrieving of Questionnaires. Only pooled findings will be recorded if this
research is released. The school or individual participants will not occur any expenses.
The result of the study will be kept private and confidential. Only the researcher has
the authority to check the data gathered.
Scoring of Questionnaires. The test outcomes were calculated based on the
conventional scoring system after the information was collected. Specified statistical
instruments were used to evaluate interpretation information in accordance with the
issues posed in the issue statement.
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Tabulating, Checking, Tallying and Recording of the Data. The socio-
economic status and socialization of the senior high school students were checked
and scored. Data were encoded in excel for easy encoding in the Statistical Package
for Social Sciences. Moreover, it also thoroughly observed the matching of the results.
Finally, it strictly observed that the demographic characteristics of the students
perfectly matched with that of the students' scores in the two different questionnaires.
The data gathered were tallied based on the goal of this investigation and will be
treated using the appropriate statistical tools. Analysis and interpretation of the
findings were done, followed by the drawing of the conclusions and the
recommendations.
Data Analysis
This section discusses how the data was analyzed. The results were presented
in the form of interpretation and the analysis followed thereafter. Data analysis focused
on answering each of the research questions by focusing on the data collected from
all three methods of data collection. The field information gathered have been
evaluated. In answering the study questions, statistically weighted mean was used.
The instrument's reaction possibilities were weighted as shown in our questionnaire.
The popular statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to
analyze data for the questionnaire. All issues were evaluated separately, taking all
accessible variables into consideration and endorsed by descriptive and inferential
assessment.
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Frequency and Percentage Distribution. It refers to a display of data that
specifies the percentage of observations that exist for each data point or grouping of
data points. It is a particularly useful method of expressing the relative frequency of
survey responses and other data (Saphio, 2008). These were used to address the
answers of the respondents to the given questionnaire.
Mean and Standard Deviation. According to Hargrave (2019), it refers to a
statistic that measures the dispersion of a dataset relative to its mean and is calculated
as the square root of the variance. It is calculated as the square root of variance by
determining the variation between each data point relative to the mean. If the data
points are further from the mean, there is a higher deviation within the data set; thus,
the more spread out the data, the higher the standard deviation. This was used to
describe the resiliency level of respondent.
T-test for Independent Samples. The t-test is described as a testing
hypothesis about the variations between means when the sample size is low
(Schewedge, 2007). Therefore, it is the t-test statistical analysis used to test the null
hypotheses used in this research. This was used to know the statistical
differences between the means of two groups.
Pearson r. The correlation measures to be developed, it is also the most
commonly used measure of association. All subsequent correlation measures have
been developed from Pearson’s equation and are adaptations engineered to control
for violations of the assumptions that must be met in order to use Pearson’s equation
(Burns & Grove, 2005; Polit & Beck, 2006). The researcher made used Pearson’s r to
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measure the strength, direction and probability of the linear association between two
interval or ratio variables.
One-way ANOVA. A hypothesis testing method used to assess the equality of
two or more variables (or therapy) implies by examining sample variances. ANOVA
enables one to determine whether the sample variations are merely due to random
mistake (sampling mistakes) or whether there are systematic therapy impacts which
cause the mean in one group to vary from the mean in another group (Brown, 2007).
Descriptive statistics were generated on each question. These descriptive statistics
included the mean scores for each question, as well as the frequency distributions for
each response. These means were then analyzed using a univariate ANOVA to
determine the significance of the change over time. The researchers used One-way
ANOVA method in order to look for the significant difference of three or more variables
grouped in the study with its significance level of α= 0.05.
Ethical Consideration
This section presents the ethical standards used in the study. This section also
discusses how these standards are applied in conducting the study.
Respect for Person. People should be treated with autonomous. The word
autonomous implies an individual can decide on what to do and what to agree to.
Researchers must respect people having to make their own informed choices about
participating in studies. To treat individuals as independent, full data about research
must be given to individuals and they must decide on their own whether to enroll
(Principles of Research Ethics, 2017).
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The researchers ensured that the respondents were treated with respect and
were not forced to participate in the study. The researchers also ensured that by
requesting their demographic profile involuntarily, their identity would not be disclosed
or exposed in our research. Through the given questionnaires with written consent
regarding their participation, withdrawal, and rights, the respondents willingly
participated in the study securing their signatures with it. All the respondents who
participated in the study are treated autonomously. According to Principles of
Research Ethics (2017) people with diminished autonomy should be protected. Some
individuals in society may not be able to create informed choices about what they are
doing or what is happening to them. These individuals should be protected in such
cases and should only be included in research under specific circumstances as they
cannot make a real informed decision on their own.
Beneficence. The definition of beneficence is an action that is done for the
benefit of others. Don't do any damage. Principles of Research Ethics (2017) stated
that research aims to uncover fresh data that would help society. Research should
never be aimed at hurting anyone or finding information at the expense of others.
Maximize participants 'benefits and minimize participants' hazards. This implies that
respondents may be subjected to certain harms or hazards. Researchers are obliged
to do their utmost to minimize these potential hazards and maximize participants'
advantages.
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The respondents of the study are informed and aware of the potential benefits
of the study. They are also ensured with safety in participating in the study. The
questionnaires are also distributed to the respondents in a safe and harm-free
environment. They are not forced to write their names with the inclusion of their
signature and the respondents are well informed of their rights and the purpose of the
study.
Justice. This principle deals with the fairness notion. Researchers designing
tests should consider what is reasonable in terms of participant recruitment and place
choices for conducting a trial. This includes questions about who benefits from studies
and who bears the study hazards. It offers the structure to think fairly and equitably
about these choices. In this study the researchers avoid any injustice actions, all
respondents are treated the same all with fairness. The respondents are not chosen
just because of their status but all are chosen fairly without any bias. The respondents
have also informed of the potential benefits this study which can provide them and
society.
People who are included in research should not be included merely because
they are a population that is easy to access, available, or perhaps vulnerable and less
able to decline to participate. The principle of justice also shows that issues in trials
should be relevant to the participating groups in the research (Principles of Research
Ethics, 2017).