singco, colina chapter 4

Chapter 4 comment

1. express all in PAST TENSE


Chapter IV

METHODOLOGY

Overview


This study will be conducted to determine the effects of course preference on the academic performance of the University of the Philippines Cebu College’s BA Psychology first year students for A.Y. 2010-2011. The factors affecting the students’ course preferences will also be examined, both internal (centered on the student) and external (based on the student’s environment). The course satisfaction of the students will also be studied, as well as their satisfaction of their academic performance (measured through their General Weighted Average).


Research Design


In the study, the descriptive research method will be used so as to understand the significance of the course preference and the factors affecting this course preference in the students’ academic performance. To define the descriptive type of research, Creswell (1994) stated that the descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition. The emphasis is on describing rather than on judging or interpreting. Moreover, this method allows a flexible approach, thus, when important new issues and questions arise during the duration of the study, further investigation may be conducted. Through the descriptive method, the researchers will be able to compare and rank the factors which affect course preference, and then correlate these factors to the student’s academic performance.


Qualitative data will also be employed because of its advantages in this kind of study, primarily because the research setting does not have to be manipulated with this method. The qualitative approach generates verbal information rather than numerical values (Polgar & Thomas, 1995). Instead of using statistical analysis, the qualitative approach utilizes content or holistic analysis; to explain and comprehend the research findings, inductive and not deductive reasoning is used. It also allows for more descriptions and explanations.


Respondents


The researchers aimed for a total of 17 participants for the sample size, about 51% of the entire population. Simple random sampling will be done for the sample selection. This sampling method is conducted where each member of a population has an equal opportunity to become part of the sample. In order to conduct this sampling technique, the researchers will first define the population and list down the names of all its 33 members—in this case, all UP- Cebu first year BA Psychology students for AY 2010-2010 (except the researchers, who are also from the same program). For this procedure, the fishbowl technique will be utilized. Each member of the master list is to be assigned a number, and the numbers will be written on slips of paper which will then be drawn from a pouch. The process is to be repeated until the desired sample size will be reached.


Research Instruments


The participants will be asked to answer a survey questionnaire as the main data-gathering instrument for this study. The questionnaire is mostly in general format and contains two items which employ ranking and a single item which employs rating. The questionnaire is divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with choice of course while Part 2 is divided into 2 sections, “General Weighted Average” and “Level of Course Satisfaction”, respectively.


Part 1 asks the respondents to rank which factors affected their course choice the most, wherein factors include personal preference, family pressure and financial capability. Part 2 explores the respondents’ General Weighted Average (GWA), their satisfaction with their GWA, and asks them to rate their overall satisfaction with their current course. They are also asked about whether they plan to pursue further studies, as this could also be a factor why they are taking up their current course. This part of the questionnaire also asks the respondents whether they would like to shift to another course, and what course do they really prefer.


Data Processing and Analysis


All the completed data will be gathered from the respondents. Their responses to the open-ended questions will be categorized into which will have the most similar thought. They will be ranked according to which kind of response will be most prominent. Answers to close-ended questions will be ranked according to how many times a particular choice will be selected.


The items which will be selected the most by the respondents will then be considered as those which apply most to the study’s objective.


The researchers will allocate one (1) week to conduct the survey. Within this allocated time the researchers will be able to contact and ask their respondents to supply the needed information for the study.