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Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter provides research methodology used for the organization of

the study. It comprises the research design, subjects of the study, the setting,

research instruments as well as methods and data analysis necessary for

interpreting and analyzing data. This section shows the process in preparing,

obtaining and analyzing of the data emanating from the respondents.

Research Design

The foregoing study is a descriptive research – a qualitative research design

aiming for the comprehensive summarization, in everyday terms, of specific

events experienced by individuals or group. In a descriptive research, it is used to

acquire information concerning the current status of the phenomena and to

describe "what exists" with respect to variables or conditions in a situation.

According to Bhat (2019), descriptive research is a research method that describes

the characteristics of population that is being studied.

Descriptive study design’s primary goal is to assess a sample at one specific

point in time without trying to make inferences or causal statements. To identify

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the areas for further research, to help in planning resources allocation, and to

provide informal information about a condition or disease are the three primary

reasons to conduct descriptive studies (National EMSC (Emergency Medical

Services for Children) Data Analysis Resource Center, 2010).

The qualitative research design using semi-structured one to one

interviews was utilized for data collection. The study used a descriptive study

design used to assess students on ICT and robotics based-learning activities

that cultivates their HOTs . Through purposive process of data gathering,

analyzing, classifying and tabulating data about demographic profile,

prevailing conditions, benefits, effects, practices or activities and their

relationships to the students, the researchers will be able to synthesize and

answer the research questions.

In addition, according to Sandelowski (2000), basic or fundamental

qualitative description differs from other types of qualitative research, such as

grounded theory, ethnography, phenomenology or narrative analysis, in the sense

that it is —as the label suggests — essentially descriptive rather than interpretive

in focus. This does not mean that a qualitative descriptive approach lacks

interpretive efforts or that it intends a supposedly neutral depiction of reality.

Qualitative description represents the methodological category that has the least

level of inference among the qualitative methods, one that allows “the reading of

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lines, as opposed to reading into, between, over or beyond the lines.” However, it

should not be understood as a low-quality approach or solely as an entry-point to

really deep research.

Subjects of the Study

The subject of the present study will focus in the representative student in

every grade level in Saint James Academy of the school year 2019- 2020. In the

study, one student in each grade level will be selected to participate in the

interview. The reason behind the selection is due to their experiences working with

Robotics-based learning activities which is being taught to Junior high school

students throughout the school year.

Relative to the respondents chosen by the researchers. The following serve

as the demographic profile of the research participants:

Respondent A, is a 13-year-old male, who lives in Sto Niño, Ibaan,

Batangas. He’s a Grade seven student in Saint James Academy.

Respondent B, is a 13-year-old female, who lives in Coliat, Ibaan,

Batangas. She’s a Grade eight student in Saint James Academy.

Respondent C, is a 14-year-old female, who lives in Pangao, Ibaan,

Batangas. She’s a Grade nine student in Saint James Academy.

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Respondent D, is a 16-year-old female, who lives in Matala, Ibaan,

Batangas. She’s a Grade ten student in Saint James Academy.

Respondents Age Gender Grade Level Address

A 13 years old Male 7 Sto Niño,

Ibaan,

Batangas
B 13 years old Female 8 Coliat, Ibaan,

Batangas

C 14 years old Female 9 Pangao,

Ibaan,

Batangas

D 16 years old Female 10 Matala, Ibaan,

Batangas

Table 1. Demographic Profile of the Respondents

Sampling Design

The researchers utilized the purposive sampling in the study. Purposive

sampling is also known as judgmental, selective, or subjective sampling that is
widely used for the identification and selection of information rich-cases for the
most proper utilization of available resources related to the phenomenon of
interest. This type of sampling can be beneficial in situations when you need to

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reach a targeted sample quickly, and where sampling for proportionality is not
the main concern. A purposive sample is a non-probability sample that is selected
based on the characteristics and qualities of the participants and the objectives of
the study. The researchers decided to use purposive sampling because it
is one of the most cost-effective and time-effective sampling methods
available. This sampling technique can be productive in exploring
anthropological situations where the discovery of meaning can benefit
from an intuitive approach. Through research assessment on ICT and
robotics based learning activities on cultivating Hots the researcher will
use his/her own judgment in order to select students who could
particulate in one to one interviews that fits our study.

Setting of the Study

This study took place at Saint James Academy located in Poblacion, Ibaan,

Batangas. Saint James Academy is a foundation that promotes not just academic

aspects but also hones students to be a Marellian-servant leader. The researchers

will make sure that the environment for the interview will be conducive for

substantial data attainment and small noises such as background noise will not be

a hindrance in conducting the interview process.

St. James Academy is the first institution who offers the first hand

advancement technology, the Robotics and ICT in the school year 2017-2018

at Ibaan Batangas. ICT and robotics is thought to the junior high school

students Since it was introduced, SJA is always known for the intelligence,

skills and talent of their collaboration of data enthusiast club robotics

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varsities who always won on the robotics competition like regional and

national robotek competition.

The world is getting smaller and is gradually turning into a small global

village. St. James Academy is very much aware of this, and dedicates to the

realization of a holistic education that makes its graduates ready to compete

globally.

Research Instrument and Validation

Qualitative research is a scientific process that requires comprehensive

understanding to gain profound views, emotions and experiences of the subject. It

deals with non-numerical data and words are used to describe and convey the

subject’s feelings and opinion instead of survey rating scales. The responses from

the respondents are not controlled because qualitative research uses open-ended

questions which means the subject can freely answer the guide questions based

from their own context. Researchers use various qualitative research designs to

understand social and cultural phenomena.

Considering the nature of the study, the proponents decided to conduct a

semi-structured interview. Semi-structured interview is the type of interview

wherein the researchers provide an open-ended guide questions that will be used to

obtain answers from the respondents. There is no particular order in terms of

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asking the questions and the proponents may add or remove questions that will

depend in the flow of the conversation the proponent and the subject has.

The research instrument to be used for the semi structured were derived

from the research questions by the proponents that were carefully examined,

considered and developed that is guaranteed to be helpful in the research study.

This was used to assess the students’ opinions and views from the Junior High

School department with regard to their Higher Order Thinking Strategies being

cultivated through the use of ICT and Robotics so that the researcher will be

able to synthesize and answer the research questions. The answers and

informations that will be gathered will be helpful and necessary to the study.

For the validation, the researchers select respondents that have experience
and prior knowledge about ICT and robotics. Maintaining validity through the
analysis is as important as in research design. The researchers make sure that
they read and review each interview transcript twice – once for understanding
content and the second for identifying patterns. Then develop observations into
descriptive and interpretive categories based on evidence in the transcripts, the
literature review, and conceptual framework. Next is to examine preliminary
codes to identify connections and develop pattern codes. Determine basic
themes by examining clusters of comments and lastly examine themes from all
interviews across groupings to delineate the primary themes evident in the
data, which serve as answers to the research questions.

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Oblates of Saint Joseph Schools