RESEARCH PROTOCOL

Research Title
PERCEPTIONS OF MMSU ILOCANO STUDENTS ON ONLINE HARASSMENT

Rationale
In the United States, sexual harassment is defined using gender neutral verbiage, but
most researches specify that women are the commonly victims of sexual harassment, while
men are the offenders (Pryor & Meyers, 2000). The sexual harassment of women is rampant
and has been found that it affects them negatively -their productivity in their workplace, as well
as their stability in the society (Celik & Celik, 2007; Pryor, 1998), It was 80 years ago that the
sexual harassment issue was under-researched as scholars had yet to name the harm. And now
that it has been named and defined, it is known as an unacceptable harm that could be
experienced by anyone (Laniya, 2005).
Men and women have different views on sexual harassment. Blumenthal (1998) found
that women identify a wider range of behaviours as sexual harassment compared to men.
Researchers Rotundo, Nguyen, and Sackett (2001) elaborated Blumenthal’s study and
determined that women were more likely to label social-sexual behaviours “that reflect
derogatory attitudes and involve dating pressure or physical sexual contact” as sexual
harassment compared to men.
Aguinaldo (2020) stated that seven out of ten Filipinas have been victims of online
harassment, according to The State of the World’s Girls Report 2020, a study by Plan
International, a development and humanitarian organization for the advancement of children’s
rights and equality for girls. Most of them were harassed between 15 to 20 years of age. Girls
with intersecting characteristics, meaning those that have a disability, belong to an ethnic
minority, or identify as LGBTIQ+, are more prone to such attacks. However, 36% do not report
these cases and choose to ignore their harasser.
Objectives of the Study
This study aims at determining the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of Ilokanos on
Online Harassment. (?)
Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:
1.What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:
a. Age;
b. Gender; and
c. Relationship status;
2. What is the knowledge of the respondents on online
harassment? 3. What is their attitude on online harassment?
4. What is the relationship of the demographic profile to the
knowledge and attitude of the respondents towards online harassment?

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Significance of the Study
The study would have potential benefits to the following:
Victims of online harassment. This study would serve as an instrument to address their
plight and problems on inline harassment. Through this research, they would feel that people
are concerned about them because they try to find solution to their problem. In this way, the
negative feelings that they might have acquired because of the said experience could be
neutralized if not overcome.
Government. To give them idea that online harassment in the Philippines is an
important issue that needs a solution or an act or even a regulation protecting every female
individual from online harassment.
Students. To inform them that online harassment is an improper way of reaching out or
approaching someone for attention, and to let them comprehend that online harassment can
have an effect to every individual of this society. To enlighten them about their human rights.
To educate them on what they could do in case the issue might happen again.
Psychologists. To provide them efficient study or statistics regarding online harassment
for them to be able to get additional information when handling cases related to the issue.
Social Media Users. To inform them that online harassment is an improper way of
reaching out or approaching someone for attention, and to let them comprehend that online
harassment can have an effect to every female individual of this society. To enlighten them
about their human rights. To educate them on what they could do in case the issue might
happen again.
Offenders. For them to realize that online harassment is a serious matter that should be
eradicated and to remind them that every action has its effects. For them to be able to have
value respect to their fellow individual.
Methodology and Procedures
Discuss the following, as applicable;
a. Research design:
Descriptive research design will be utilized in this study. This research
design is appropriate to the study since the researchers will produce a
poster on how online harassment is done, when it is acceptable, its
causes and effects, and how rampant it is, if the measures of the result is
high. This research design aims to cast light on current issues or problems
through a process of data collection that enables them to describe the situation
more completely than was possible without employing this method (Fox, W. &
Bayat, M.S., 2007). b. Research Instrument:
Actual interview and survey
questionnaire will serve as the main instrument of gathering data from the 100
respondents.Two separate questionnaires were used in the actual survey;
one for the victims and another for the perpetrators. c. Population and
Sampling: The
researchers will utilize purposive with criterion sampling method in order to
specifically target the population of 100 Ilocano youth respondent mainly
MMSU students.
d. Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:

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 Victims and Perpetrators of Online Harassment:
e. Data Collection Procedures:
As this study will involve human respondents, a University Research Ethics and Review
Board (URERB) ethics certificate shall be procured first before proceeding with any. This
is to ensure that the study adheres to appropriate and ethical standards with the
purpose of safeguarding the dignity, rights and well-being of the participants who will be
participating in this study. After the issuance of the certificate, the researchers will
communicate with Psychologists and Online Users to obtain permission for the
conducting of the actual survey and interview to them. Voluntary participants will be
informed of the objectives of the research, and agree to the Informed Consent
Information that will be provided. After there are 100 useable responses (answer from
respondents who satisfy the inclusion criteria) from the Ilocano social media users, the
data gathered will undergo statistical analysis which includes frequency, mean, and
correlation analysis.
f. Statistical analysis plan/Data analysis plan:
The respondents/participants of the study were random students of the College of Arts
and Sciences who have facebook and twitter accounts and 18 years old and
above. However, only 20% of the students will considered as an actual respondents.
They will be obtain through random sampling technique.

With the college dean’s permission, the researcher will conduct a pre-survey to
determine who among in the sample population have experienced online harassment.
Then, the researcher will base on the pre-survey, the researcher randomly select their
respondents from those who have experiences on online harassment. The researcher
will talk to the respondents and inform them about the research. Once they agreed, the
researcher will ask them to sign the informed consent document and give them the
survey questionnaire for them to obtain the data on their perceptions and coping
mechanisms for the victims of online harassment. After they will retrieve the
questionnaires, the researcher will analyze the result and identified one hundred (100)
respondents who will undergo in-depth interview. The researchers will inform those one
hundred (100) respondents about the poster and get their permission to be part of it.

The researcher allotted 15 minutes for each of the ten respondents for the in-depth
interview. So, the interview will serve as a toll to obtain detailed information about the
respondents’ experiences which will then be re-enacted through a poster campaign. The
researcher will need also to consult different psychologists regarding the causes of
online harassment. The interview of the psychologists will be last for only half an hour
only.

Before the researchers post the poster, the researchers must ask at least 3 critics to
evaluate the poster. One critic will evaluate the poster’s the images and designs used;
and the two will assess the content of the poster. After which, the researcher will
post the poster on Facebook. Then the researcher will wait three (3) days, the
researcher will measure the success of the poster campaign via numbers of shares and
comments. This will provide the researchers idea on the strength and weaknesses of the

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poster and would inform them if the poster could be an effective tool to spread awareness
on online harassment and help solve existing problems about it.

a. Other information, as applicable.

Ethical Considerations
Discuss the following, as applicable;
a. Informed Consent Process:
The researchers will be utilizing an actual questionnaire, hence the researchers will be
conducting the survey in an actual interview, to which the researchers will communicate
with the different Psychologists and counselor administrators in obtaining permission to
post the researchers online survey link to their respective groups. The post will include
instructions and attacked to the link will be a statement informing of the objectives of
the research, and the Informed consent Information.
b. Vulnerability of subjects:
The study will not consider individuals who are below 18 years of age and individuals
whose ages are higher than 30, and/or individuals who are in vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, this study will not require the individuals or force our respondents to
answer our survey. The respondents should answer the questionnaire voluntarily.
c. Privacy and Confidentiality:
In this paper the researchers will be asking for information that will be deemed
personal, however all information that will be provided will be treated with outmost
respect and confidentiality.
d. Risks and Benefits
The survey will be conducted actual, in order for our respondents to not be exposed to
risk while conducting our survey. However, it may prove an added benefit to our
respondents by being exposed or meeting other MMSU students.
e. Incentives or compensation:
Since the respondent’s participation in this study is highly voluntary. Hence, there will
be no cash incentives, douceur, monetary inducement or compensation in any form to
be given to the respondents.
f. Other information, as applicable.

REFERENCES:
www.researchgate.net/publication/348133434_Harassment_Causes_Effects_Solutions?
fbclid=IwAR1lVP-2LF61cxBKhWpI0OIEBUheavJFqOjNZ7HCVp9mheI98z_cSo7Japs
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
228142421_Online_Harassment_Among_College_Students_A_Replication_Study_Incorporating
_New_Internet_Trends?fbclid=IwAR379QUFuGBPR5CyrMk_F9xwCPLXrH3B0VUY-
Qbj6dXuhi7tZRc0V1Hs3ho
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1136778.pdf?
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https://news.uga.edu/social-media-addiction-linked-to-cyberbullying/
https://sociojuris.medium.com/a-primer-on-cyberbullying-and-related-philippine-laws-
23df63af11c0

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https://elunanetwork.org/resources/cyber-bullying-awareness
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https://www.psypost.org/2021/09/men-who-catcall-claim-its-a-normal-way-of-flirting-while-at-
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Note:
1. 1” margin on all sides
2. Font – Calibri 12
3. Single space
4. Continuous pagination including the study tools, curriculum vitae, and budget

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