CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter will explain the method adopted by this research.

This chapter will mention every component involved in conducting

this research from the research design, the sample, and the

participants for pilot testing used for the interview. Finally, this

chapter provides a detailed explanation the data collection procedure

and the plan for data analysis.

Research design

This study is a qualitative research study which focuses

on the experiences of OFW families within the issue Peso-

Contra-Dollar. In the study of University of Utah, a qualitative

research study is a process of naturalistic inquiry that seeks in-

depth understanding of social phenomena within their natural

setting. It focuses on the "why" rather than the "what" of social

phenomena and relies on the direct experiences of human

beings as meaning-making agents in their everyday lives.

This study is also a Phenomenological study. In the study

of Grand Canyon University in Arizona, phenomenology started

in the 20th century philosophical movement based on the work

of the philosopher Edmund Husserl. It is also stated that

phenomenology is a qualitative research method that is used to

describe how human beings experience a certain phenomenon.

 A phenomenological study attempts to set aside biases and

preconceived assumptions about human experiences, feelings,

and responses to a particular situation. It allows the researcher

to delve into the perceptions, perspectives, understandings, and

feelings of those people who have actually experienced or lived

the phenomenon or situation of interest. Therefore,

phenomenology can be defined as the direct investigation and

description of phenomena as consciously experienced by people

living those experiences. The researchers chose a

phenomenological study because the researchers want to study

the experiences of OFW families here in Mati City within the

current issue nowadays, which is the issue Peso-Contra-Dollar

which allows the researchers to delve into the feelings of the

participants.

The sample

In the study of Creswell (2008), Phenomenology has to

have a sample of 15-25 participants. And in this study, 16

participants are going to be the sample. The researchers choose

to have 16 participants to have an even number which means

that there is a probability of having an equally distributed data.

This study will involve participants who have a relative

currently working abroad and are sending money to them for

their needs. The respondents will be from Mati City. The group

of people who will be studied are people in the age of 15-40

 years old, because they are the ones who can get remittances or

money from remittance centers and from their relatives working

abroad.

This study will also use a non-probability purposive

sampling. In the study of Crossman (2018), non-probability

purposive sampling means that the sample that will be selected

is based on characteristics of a population and the objectives of

this study. Purposive sampling is also known as judgmental,

selective, or subjective sampling.

The instrument(s)

The researchers will design a self-administered interview

schedule to use for the face-to-face interview. The primary aim

of the interview schedule is to determine the experiences of OFW

families within the issue Peso-Contra-Dollar. This research will

use a combination of closed questions and more open

comments in the questionnaire. A closed question is one that

has pre-coded answers. But, this study will also be more on

open comments from the participants. The simplest is the

dichotomous question to which the respondent must answer yes

or no. This study will also use semi-structured interviews which

are interviews that allow the researchers to have flexibility in

the way the researchers ask questions in interviewing the

participants (Struwig & Stead, 2001). The interviews can also be

conducted using synchronous approach (via instant messaging,

 online chat, IP telephone) (Stieger and Reips 2008). Since online

interviews can be carried out over large distances, costs can be

saved (Bampton and Cowton 2002). Data is mostly already

transcribed reducing the time and effort for the researchers.

Especially internet interviews are seen as a practical technique

of creating a personal relationship online and thus collecting

rich, in‐depth interview data (Kivitis 2005). However, finding

interview partners online might pose as a problem and

especially synchronous interviews have a tendency to be

interrupted or delayed. Also, the researchers wishes to

accurately capture the data and as a result all the interviews

are going to be tape recorded.

Pilot testing

The researchers asked 5 representatives, through

messenger, if they understood the given interview questions.

The representatives were the classmates and batch mates of the

researchers. They are Grade XI students of Immaculate Heart of

Mary Academy taking the Accountancy, Business and

Management academic strand.

The representatives all said that the 11 interview

questions were easy to understand and that it would cause no

problem to the representatives when the researchers will ask

them, therefore there is no need to rephrase the following

interview questions.
 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Do you have an OFW family member in your family?

2. How many years have your relative worked abroad?

3. How much does your relative earn from working

abroad?

4. How many are you in your family?

5. What is the mode of sending money (bank accounts or

money transfer centers) your family uses?

6. How much money does your family receive from your

relative working abroad?

7. Do you think that the money sent by your relative,

who works abroad, is enough for your family? Why?

8. What does your family do with the amount of money

given by your relatives working abroad?

9. Do you think that the money sent by your relatives

help the economy? Why?

10. What comes into your mind when you hear the

issue ‘Peso-Contra-Dollar’?

11. Is your family affected (negative or positive way)

within the issue peso-contra-dollar? Why or why not?

Data collection procedure

The researchers will find the participants who are families

of OFW workers in Barangay Central, Mati City. Once there are

participants, the researchers will brief them about the study

and give them the information sheet, and inform them that the

participation will be voluntary. The participants will be given a

choice if they want to be part of the study or not.

The participants will be then requested to sign the

consent form stating that they understand what the study was

about and understand that the participation will be voluntary.

The tape-recording consent form will be then presented to them,

which asks for their permission for the interviews to be tape-

recorded.

The participants will be then interviewed individually in

their houses. Semi-structured, one-to-one or face-to-face

interviews will be used as in depth information of the

respondents’ understanding will be needed, and this also allows

the researchers some degree of flexibility (De Vos et al., 2002).

The tape recorder will be used during each interview. Making

use of a tape recorder allows the researchers to record fully and

accurately what will be said rather than taking notes during the

interviews. In the study of De Vos et al. (2002), it will be very

useful to make use of a tape recorder because the researcher is

 able to concentrate on what will be said in the interviews so that

the researchers could think about a follow-up question.

Plan for data analysis

The thematic content analysis will be used to analyze the

interview data. Thematic content analysis will be used because

approach is flexible that there is no specific research design

associated with thematic analysis; it can be utilized for case

studies, phenomenology, generic qualitative, and narrative

inquiry and many more. This data analysis plan is perfect for

both novice and expert qualitative researchers because the

steps are easy to follow but rigorous enough to generate

meaningful findings from the data. The researchers will also use

this kind of data analysis for it will be easier to analyze and

group the data. This analysis method is comprised of five steps,

namely: transcription, checking and editing, analysis and

interpretation, and verification (Karlsson, ND; Sarantakos,

1998).

Step 1: Transcription

The researchers will transfer tape recorded data onto

paper, and reads it to get an idea of what the data was about.

Step 2: Checking and Editing

The data will be divided into smaller related (meaningful)

units. This will be achieved by reading each paragraph and

recording the themes that will be in every paragraph. Similar

themes will be then grouped together to make related units.

Step 3: Analysis and Interpretation

Psychological meaning will be used to interpret the

themes, from step 2. This will be achieved by using the

researchers’ understanding of the themes that will be presented.

The psychological interpretation will be then used as the facts.

Step 4: Generalization

The differences and similarities, between the different

interviews will be identified, allowing typologies to develop.

The researchers will summarize the units in the order

that suited, by dividing it into related paragraphs. The

differences will also be grouped into individual paragraphs.

Step 5: Validation

Validity of the data will be checked by going through the

transcripts again, and allowing every researcher to read it as

well- so as to validate the findings.

The central theme will be then obtained (Karlsson,

undated; Krippendorff, 1980; Sarantakos, 1998).