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Ghapter lll
THE RESEARCH DESIGN

The type of food to be served.commands the type of preparation, time

ingredients, materials, and instruments needed; This is similar to research. T
nature of a problem dictates the methodology, length of study, setting, population,
sampling, data gathering instruments, and the statistical toots ts be used.
Descriptive Research

lt is a methodology that presents a broad spectrum of activities purpor,tedly

aimed atdescribingevents, phenomena, situations, practicesandtrendsdevel,oping.
There are lwo ways of describing or providing attributes the subjects'being
observed. lt may be done quantitatively, that is, through the use of measurement
or quantification of phenomena, situations, ,events or'variables under study. lt
may bq done qualitatively, that is through noting observations, impressions, and
.f.pinterpretations.
ln brief, descriptive research involves the process of obtaining
classifying, analyzing, and allotting data about situations, processes, practices,
and trends that may be interpreted meaningfully.

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Survey Research

It is a descriptive method used to study a representative characteristic

population.
lt aims to capture a situation that occurs in a moment. Survey
a
,I "of
lPi, sometimes called descriptive survey or normative survey. Survey research is
,^+i::=.^r^^L^-^ interview,
:^+^-,:^.., through
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various wayg
like personal
interview, telephone
in ..^-:^.
II conducted
dof*
,wt*+.rcoi,
1 prpur- pen questionnaire, fax, mail, and electionic mail. (rt-.
q'|g)

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lnterview Method
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lnterview is a conference between two persons purposely for gathering

the needed data or information. The inlerviewer refers to the person who obtains
information while the interviewee provides the desired information.

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Rn interview may be structured or unstructured. ln a structured interview,

i thu r.t.rrcher follows prupur"d set of questions. This is to avoid thinking while
6';,asking the interview, and hence makes the gathering of information systematic.
YA *tructured interview does not only mban arranged questions or pre - informed

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cjone to a group of participants called the experinrertar grcup. The result will be
compared to the result of the other group ealled the control group with sirniiar

characteristics but was withheld with such interventions.

Classification of Samptes in Experimenta!

Research

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Control Group. A group of samples in which the independent variable isi

withheld or no interyention was

applied

Experimentat Group. Agroup of samples thai receives the r':'ranip"tation or'!

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equivaleni assigned. It may have more than one value, even the researcher is'f
is

interested in only one

if

condition.

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Excellent
Very GoodGood

Fair

Classification of Variables
Dependent Variable. Factor who-ce value is affected by the indepencient
variable; the outconre of the manipulation, control oi'intervention; the changes that
occur in the study.
lndependent Variable. lt affects the value of the dependent con.ditions that
produce the outcome, the variable that the researcher controls or manipulates. :
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topic, it also involves arranged time and venue for the interviewee so that
interviervee can substantiaily prepare himself as well as the information hes
cast to the researcher.
An unstructured interview, also called an emergency or ambush

is done without sufficient preparation. This may be laborious because the

that the interviewer happens to forget some vital questions, he needs to condt
follow-up interview. Questions in the intervlew may be classified as initial questio
foltow-up questions, and clarificatory questions.

lnterview Approaches

There are three approaches in conducting an interview: soft

stress interview, and standardized interview (Singh, 2AA1). These have
bearing in the eliciting of data from respondents,
1. Soft tnterview. The soft interview approach uses sympathy,
siyle, coopeiation, and sharing between the interviewee and the interviewer.
communication between the two rnay reach the peak level where both pa
reveal to each othei even the seemingly confidential matters between them.
means that the element of trust is developed between them. BecaUse of this, ei
party especially the interviewee may disclose whatever things he wants to say.
2. Stress lnterview. This approach intimidates, forces, pressures,
or compels the interviewee to provide the needed information, lt may use strateg

like inflicting pains, threatening, and fr"ightening the interviewee in order to

him tell the truth. A.policeman interrogating a suspect including accessories
accomplices illustrates how a stress interview is typically done. The result
strgss interview in some instances may be construed invalid because threateni
an interviewee may let him just admit any accusation against hirn even if cont
to his will but does such in order to avoid imminent harm.

3. Standard.ized tnterview. This is a neutral interview that respects

proper distance,beh*een the interviewer and the interviewee. The process is
purposely to gather the desired data from the respondents. lt is expected that
parties involved in the interview shall limit their topic to the objective of intervi
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Case Study
A case study involves an in-depth analysis of one person, group, institu
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...,ect, agellcy, community or entity.

lt

requires an intensive and thoi'cugh

of the actors that contribute to a case

;--, e srigation

unfavorable or favorabie.

An example is the decline of the most poputarfood house in the 801s. ln terms

ally

you may determine the strengthS, weaknesses, opportunities, ion

c: S\,VOT analysis,
you may simply attribCe the rnt
arcj ihreats cf the food house. ln an in-depth study,
food
company
the
weaknessethat
the strengths, its be
the
to
outweighed
of
ieclne
surpassed
new
the'chances
recover
by
the
competitors,
dwindled ed
to
{.:.engths are
lnt
aro the threats around weakened the resistance of the food compahy.
he

Another exdmple may be the identical twins, both males, almost exuding
periectly the same features frorn infancy to- toddler stage. When both children
reached age seven, one of them shows significant superiority in strength, school.
31hie,remcnt, socialization skills and playfulness. Both children, however, have
uelght end height. You are now pt-rzzled which sparks you to embark on
ii-.1e sante
fnding tne fantci's that make them significantly different in other characteristics.

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ln anothersituation, a greatcity experiences an exodus of residents migrating

peripheral
communities of the metropolis. This must be an alarming situation
tr :ne
place
which if not averted will create a forsaken city and of course, resulis
ni one
:p dissolution, abolition, or diminution of a political unit. Such aspects to look inio

nay include securi$, poltution, economic conditions, .traffic problem, and othe:'
ahrming reasons. The aforementioned situation requires objective observation.
silerview, comrnuniiy integration, personal interference in order to determine the
tr,rth contributing to the analysis of given situations.

Ethnographic Research

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Ethnography is derived from Greek word "ethos" which.means race, natici:

cr culture. Ethnography is a scientific study of description of people and races.
Seir activity; cultural context and of various rneanings derived and attached tc
such cultural acts.

An example is the lifestyle of people inhabiting a.mountainous communi!

a developing province where no incidence of chotesterel.related mortality was
ed. The researcher was curious about the population in that place which was
::':ilar to a population in one subdivision in the city, but in the latter, a remarkable
':cor"tion of deaths were recorded for the last two years. ln the subject rura
cmmunity the situation is entirely unique as there was an insignificant morialitl

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The iesearcher integrated himself with the rural community for a considerable
lengjth of time. He observed that men and women wdrk in the fieid until they are
capable, exerting much of their eifort in preparing the fields, cverseeing the farms,
and car'ryir':g harvests from fai"m site to their barns ar-rd home..They walk almost
daily from their shacks in the i,illage ascenciing and descending from their homes
towaids their workplace and vice -versa. They survive more on vegetables, fruits,
rootpr.ops, and sometimes on naiive poultry and.iivesiock products. Hoilciays are
nighr.tft".nieO by hog catching, bamboo post climbing, and ilullflght fcr men whitecuitur2[.dancing, tug of-war and other strenuous games are presented by womeni
and childr:en. The distance of the ruralviilage to the urbanized c.ommunity compels,
the folks tc pound rlce and sometimes corn usinE the mortar and pestle,
-.'

The bayanihan system or synergy still exists and indolent peoole are
condemned in the viliage. Peopie are happy and the elderlv are respecteci zealously.
Almost all deaths are caused by senility.
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Sample f itle: May Festivals in Selected Towns of Quezon Province

Phenomenotogicai Research

It is a type of research that attempts to expiore human perception and

understanding to an event or phenomenon in a single context and in riultiple
comprehension. lt is an interr"iew - based siudy because the researcher hi
serves as the instrument in eiiciting data or responses from the participants, The'
experiences and understanding of the researcher may be partially or entirely simil
or different f:"om those of the par:ticicanis. Hence, the n'rmber of participants who'
also have direci experiences to the event or phenornenon under study musi be
sufficient and manageable, say,25 perscns.
The unstrucir.rred ir-rtervlew process is rnainly used as it maximizes the

oitime even beyond two hours in ar: isolated place with a participant. This enables
the interviewee to disclose fuiiy his experiences. ln this case, the
shall be adept !n noting expressions, cues. sidetracks, and kinetics. Also, the
researcher shall be alert in docunrenting the commonalities and differences
meanings attached to a similar situation cr phenomencn.
An examrie of a phenomenological research is ',he ir,terma;-riage of the
offsprings of ihe two warring tribes in cne prcvince that srryorn to kill each other's
constit'.:er"iis. Because cf the
ciesi;n ci noth tribes, ihey intend to prcd
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powerful successors, so both tribes ciispatched their chilCren to pursue higher

ecjucation in a highly civilized city. There, their chiidien crossed ways and eventualiy

oevei,rped irresistible affection io each other,. Scme of these educated generation

engaged in rnarriage witholrt the consent of their warring parents. A significant

rncidence of inier-tribe rnarriage increased phenomenally that can no longer be
eonirollec by both tribes. The researcher now wants to monitor if the sacred
wedlock may be separated forever by the seenringly endless barbarie treetment
'researcher will be able to repcrl the
to each ather by the two opposing tribes. The
ii-uth regarding such situation because he is a relative of one of the two warring
clans.

FeasibilitY StudY
This type of siudy presents the viability, profitability, sustainabiiity, stabilitv
ci a business proposal if it will be established. lt forecasts the capitaikation,
nraintenance, a;ld operation casts that cover materials, men, management and
lna rketin g exp'.r{ rbes
"

For instance, you u,,snt tc establish a hospltal in an urban center. You ivill be
simply guided by these questions.
\

1.

lVho rr,'iii manage the hospita!? Do they possess silperior rnanagerial

eompeience?

2.

Will ycur hospital offer better services than those of the existing

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ones?
J.

Do you have sufficient funds io operate such institution?

4.

Are there available conrpetent people in the place who may b* hired
for various'posiiicns in the hcspitai?

5.

Can your prospecilve patients in the ccmmunity afford the sei-vices

of your nredical institution?

6.

Wiii your hospital be rriable as it provides affcrdable services to the

community where you operate?

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Exa n-"'ples

1.
2.

of Feasibil

ity Studyt

. Propcsed &egionat Medicai Center

Froposed 2i00 Unit Condominium
Proposed Shopping Arcade

Content Analysis

This is also calied documentary analysis or archival research.

is a detaileo and systematic examination of the contenis of data files such
books, journals, newspapers, films, compaci Ciscs, videotapes, and transcri
of proceedings: lnformation retriel,al may be rnade possible by looking inta
iexiuai content, visual elements or tonal charaeieristics of communication, a
material archives.
ln

Stuciies like case analysis, legal research, and historical researeh

content analysis as a pritnar,y method in seeking for needed data,

An exarnple of content analysis is the study entitled "Financial Equity

Local Medioal Ser,rices of City Gover"nments in the l{ational Capitai R.egion."
research scanned re*ords like Local Health Baard resolutions, rninutes of meeti
requests for obligrtion of aiictment, dlsbursement vouchers, purchase crders,
receipts that evicienced tfib amount allotted and spent by the ci$ respcndents
medical services.
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Ex Post Facto

Research

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The Latin phrase "ex post facto" mecns after the deed, after the fact
retroactively, is a causal cornparative research which is rarely conducted.
things that happened, the ;'esults; will become the bases in detsrmining tho$
factoi's that brought abbut effects or outcomes.
For instance the fruits from Mindanao may be classifieci as signiflca
higher in quality than thosefrom Luzon because the soils in Mindanao are arbitra
judged as more fertiie that ihese in Luzon. There is unfairness or bias in cornparin
the soils in both l*eations. lt is possible that the better quality of fruits may be
atiributed tc a b,rand of ierlilizer used, the aimospheric ccndition in ihe place
variety of.fruits. or the far:ming teehrrique.

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,: : i:li:;::l Rcsearch

risioriography or historical research deals i.:ith meaningful and fruitful e'.,ents

,,..1 e6sUrrd fr.om ihe antiquities to the recent pasi that may have beai'ing to the
1,, of huqrariity. Such accounts of events and hacpenings may be intereiated with
,::::iri responsible for their incidence. We neec ic understand that a sufflcient
past may help us understand netter the preseni. For history
;.scernment about the
to rePiicate itself'

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Historical researchers may include titles iike:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Earthquakes that Wrecked Havoc to the Country

Transforrnation of a Municipairf into a Premier Citr'.
Development of an !nstitute lnic a University
Metro Manila: Past and Prgseni
La Union Province,18sO - 1974: its History, Growth. and
Development

A hisiorica! research sr":cceeds mainly through archiva! research.'Sources

data inciude lefiers, journals, chronicles, diaries, publisheC materials
i:ke books, magazines, annals, and other prinied and sci'ibbled mater-ials. Other
reservoir of historical data include eiectronic cata files. discs, tapes, fiims,
p::tographs, slides, other pcrtabie documents anC iangibie things.
of historical

Physical facilities, transportation, commun,cation and utilities. Suildings,

dams, bridges, railways, pyramids. and other
erormcus handiwork of men connote numerous meanings.
:cwers,. transmitters, aqueducts,

Likewise; mobile products

of people rnai' also provide historical data.

Such u;orks include handicrafts, metal crafts, potterres. knitted materials, leather
;'oducts, textile materials, anw-orks, tools. pens, r1'eapons, sports, paraphernalia,

medical equipment and apparatuses etc. Such m'-iliitude cf astonishing outputs

tc the design, size, c-omposition,

of men may imply countless meanings attached

rrn, and appearance.

xperirnental Research
This type of study attempts to examine the infiuences and effecis of factors
other conditions as control and manipuiation are applied upon subjects. lt finds
ut the cause and effect relationship of sevbral variables after interventions are
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