RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Chapter III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter follows a well-defined procedure of explaining the research

methods used in this paper. Specifically, what has been discussed here are the

research method used, population frame and sampling scheme, description of

the respondents, instrument used, data gathering procedure and statistical

treatment of data.

Research Method Used

The researchers followed a quantitative approach in this study. The

method was chosen to satisfy and meet the objectives of the study that deals

with numbers and variables that is measured in a systematic way of

investigation of phenomena and their relationships. It is used to answer

questions on relationships within measurable variables with an intention to

explain, predict and control a phenomenon.

As mentioned by Leedy, P. D. (2009), an entire quantitative study usually

ends with confirmation or disconfirmation of the hypothesis tested. Researchers

using the quantitative method identify one or a few variables that they intend to

use in their research work and proceed with data collection related to those

variables. The objective of the quantitative method is to develop and employ

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models based on mathematical approach, hypotheses and theories pertaining

to the nature of a phenomenon. The process of measurement is the focus of

quantitative method due to its connectivity between empirical observation and

mathematical expression of quantitative relationships. This method is also

known as an iterative process where the evidence is evaluated, hypotheses and

theories are refined with some technical advances, leveraging on statistical

approaches.

Quantitative method typically begins with data collection based on a

hypothesis or theory and it is followed with application of descriptive or

inferential statistics hence, it is appropriate in the study because this is the very

nature of the research. Specifically the survey research design was employed.

It was due to the nature of the research that involves multiple interests of the

students. Kerlinger (1973) defined survey research as a study of large and

small populations by selecting samples chosen from the desired population and

to discover the relative incidence, distribution and interrelations. The ultimate

goal of survey research is to learn about a large population by surveying a

sample of the population. In this method, a researcher poses a series of

questions to the respondents, summarizes their responses in percentages,

frequency distribution and some other statistical approaches. Survey research

typically employs face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews or the common

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approach using questionnaires. Basically, information is acquired by asking

respondents questions by using interviews or questionnaires.

Normally, the type of survey method used depends on the scope of the

research work and in this case a cross sectional approach was used because

the research needs a pool of opinions and practices about the phenomenon

being investigated. In cross-sectional survey, a researcher collects information

from a sample drawn from a population. It involves collecting data at one point

of time. The period of data collection can vary and it depends on the study

weight age.

Population Frame and Sampling Scheme

The sample in the study was obtained from the officially enrolled students

at the three state higher learning institutions in Metro Manila, which includes;

Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC), University of Makati (UMak) and Rizal

Technological University (RTU). The intention of the researchers is to gather

information from 450 students, however; they were short in the numbers due to

certain circumstances which are beyond control. Thus, 420 student

respondents were obtained where 206 were from RTU, 114 were from UMak

and 100 were from MPC.

The selection of the sample was simple random because the researchers

believe that when information are randomly obtained it is less bias and will
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definitely serve its purpose. As coined by Calmorin (2010), this is the best

random sampling design because no restriction is imposed, and every member

of the population has an equal chance of inclusion in the sample.

Description of the Respondents

A total of 420 respondents participated in the study. There were 34.29% or

144 males and 65.71% or 276 females. Respondents’ age ranges from 15

years old and above and a large number of them were aged 18 to 20 years old.

Most of the respondents’ parents, about 35.24% or 148 of them, had attended

college but were not able to finish. The 52.62% or 221 of the respondents have

taken more than 3 math subjects, whereas the remaining 47.38% only

encountered math in their course less than 3 times. All in all, respondents from

Rizal Technological University (RTU) are about 49.05%, the Marikina

Polytechnic College is 23.81%, and University of Makati 27.14%.

Instrument Used

A researcher’s made questionnaire was developed and validated to gather

information. This survey questionnaire measured the student’s understanding of

Statistics.

The instrument was divided into three parts. The part I include

information about the student respondent demographic profiles. The part II is

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composed of twenty questions (20), ten (10) of which measure the students’

perception of statistics as influenced by their personal beliefs. The other ten

(10) questions, measure the student’s perception of statistics as affected by the

environment. Their responses were measured from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 4

(Strongly Agree).

The part III of the instrument measures the student’s understanding of

the reality of statistics. There are 10 questions on this part and the responses of

the respondents were also measured from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 4 (Strongly

Agree).

To ensure the validity of the instrument, three (3) experts comprised of

professors and statisticians were asked to criticize the instrument. The experts’

suggestions and comments were taken into considerations and were

incorporated in the final copy of the survey instrument.

Scale Range Verbal Interpretation

1 1.00-1.49 Strongly Disagree

2 1.50-2.49 Disagree

3 2.50-3.49 Agree

4 3.50-4.00 Strongly Agree

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Data Gathering Procedure

In order to make this study possible and get the necessary and pertinent

information, the researchers asked the help of their adviser for contacts from

different schools to easily conduct a survey. Fortunately, in one of the schools,

the Marikina Polytechnic College, a professor accommodated the researchers

for the survey. The professor took the questionnaires telling the researchers

that she will personally conduct the survey and asked the researchers to come

back the next week to get the surveyed instruments.

In the other university, the University of Makati, the researchers walked

into the school and randomly choose students to answer the questions in the

instruments. It took them several days to completely obtain information from

114 students.

Meanwhile, in the Rizal Technological University, the survey was made

easy by the help of their adviser. The adviser also asked the researchers to

leave the questionnaires and he personally conducted the survey for them. The

researchers were also asked to come back after several days to get the

surveyed instruments.

Overall, the instruments that were fully accomplished by the students

reached in 420. The researchers wasted no time and begun tallying the data.

The analysis came next using the SPSS program and excel.
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Statistical Treatment of Data

The following statistical tests were used to analyze and interpret the

gathered data.

1. Percentage- describes how many parts are there out of one hundred parts

of the entire objects. This was used to show the proportion of the

respondents with respect to their sex, age, school, number of math subjects

taken, parent’s educational attainment and occupation. It is expressed with

the use of percentage (%) sign.

Formula:

𝑓
P= x 100%
𝑛

Where:

P = Percentage

f = frequency of each group of students in the sample size

n = sample size

2. Weighted mean – it is an average that takes into account the importance of

each value of the overall total. This was used to show an average tally of the

responses of the respondents in each of the questions incorporated into the

questionnaire. Specifically, it was used to determine the average responses

of the respondents’ perception and understanding of Statistics.

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Formula:

∑(𝑓𝑥1 + 𝑓𝑥2 + 𝑓𝑥3 +...+ 𝑓𝑥𝑘 )

WM =
𝑛1 +𝑛2 +𝑛3 +⋯+𝑛𝑘

Where:

WM = Weighted Mean

f𝑥1 , 𝑓𝑥2 , … , 𝑓𝑥𝑘 = weight of responses in each of the questions being

considered

𝑛1, 𝑛2 , … , = total number of observations.

3. z- test for two independent sample is a statistical test where normal

distribution is applied and is basically used for dealing with problems relating

to large samples when n ≥ 30. It was used to determine the differences in

the perception of the male and female students in statistics.

Formula:

𝑥̅ 1 −𝑥̅ 2
𝑧=
𝑠 2 𝑠 2
√ 1 + 2
𝑛1 𝑛2

Where:

z = z-test for Two Independent sample

𝑥1 = mean of the first group

𝑥2 = mean of the second group

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𝑛1 = sample of the first group

𝑛2 = sample of the second group

𝑆1 2 = standard deviation of the first group

𝑆2 2 = standard deviation of the second group

4. One way ANOVA- used to determine whether there are any statistically

significant differences among the means of two or more independent

(unrelated) groups. This test was used to determine the differences in the

perception of the students in Statistics when grouped by the number of their

taken math subjects, their age, their school, the educational attainment and

occupation of their parents.

Source of Sum of Degrees of Mean Square

Variation Squares Freedom

Between SSB k-1 𝑆𝑆𝑏

MSB = 𝐾−1

Groups

Within Groups SSW K (n-1) 𝑆𝑆𝑊

MSW = 𝐾 (𝑛−1)

5. Chi-square- test of Independence- this statistical treatment is applied

when you have two categorical variables from a single population. It is

used to determine whether there is a significant association between the

two variables. In this research, it was used to determine whether the

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respondents profile is related on their understanding of the reality of

Statistics.

Formula:

2
∑(𝑓𝑜− 𝑓𝑒 )2
𝑥 =
𝑓𝑒

Where:

𝑥 2 = Chi-square test of independence

𝑓𝑂 = observed frequency

𝑓𝑒 = expected frequency

∑(𝑓𝑜− 𝑓𝑒 )2 = summation of the squared difference between observed and

expected frequencies.