METHODOLOGY

This chapter will explicate the methods and procedures that will be used

by the researchers. This will comprise the research design, population and locale

of the study, research instrumentation and the procedure of data. Moreover, it will

depict the appropriate statistical treatment in order to establish its validity and

reliability.

Research Design

Research design is the study plan that will provide the overall framework

for collecting data. Quantitative descriptive research design will be employed in

this research. Quantitative research is an approach to structure knowledge by

determining how much of a given behavior, characteristic, or phenomenon is

present. Quantitative research methods are particularly focused on objectivity and

the ability to generalize findings to others. Descriptive research design is defined

as the explanation or description of phenomena in real life. It describes the

characteristics, situations, state of affairs, of groups; physical environment

conditions. Its main purpose is to examine the relationship among variables where

enough information exists (Helman, 1991).

Population and Locale of the Study

The respondents of the study will be mothers of Maligcong, Purok 4,

Barangay Pinsao Pilot, Baguio City with age ranging from 14 - 50 years old. The
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respondents of the study will consist of fifty (50) participants using random

selection. The study will be commenced from March 2010 to June 2010.

Instrumentation

Questionnaire will be the primary tool to be employed for gathering the

data necessary in this research. Questionnaire will be organized and will be

distributed to obtain responses to questions that are intended to obtain information

about the extent on practice of cultural beliefs on maternal and newborn health

care. The utilization of this tool is strategic since it is simple, time saving and

implies a wide scattered sample. Furthermore, interview will be utilized to

substantiate details.

Procedure of Data

Questionnaires will be floated to fifty (50) mothers of Maligcong, Purok 4,

Barangay Pinsao Pilot, Baguio City with age ranging from 14 - 50 years old. The

data gathered from the respondents will be tabulated, analyzed and will be

subjected to statistical treatment. Computed statistical data will be interpreted and

a conclusion will be drawn thereafter.

Statistical Treatment

The organized and analyzed gathered data will be treated with particular

statistical tool and will be interpreted.

Weighted mean is used to determine the average of the perceptions of

people about nondiscrete variables, variables with continuous scales and without

any apparent zero point (Calderon, 2000). Weighted mean will be computed to
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ascertain the extent of practice of cultural beliefs on maternal and newborn health

care. The formula below will be applied:

Xw = n1 (1) + n2 (2) + n3 (3)

nt

Where:

Xw – weighted mean
n1 – number of respondents who answered 1

n2 – number of respondents who answered 2

n3 – number of respondents who answered 3

nt – total number of respondents

F – test is used to determine significance of the differences among means

if there are more than two groups (Calderon, 2000). F – test will be utilized to

determine the difference on the extent of practice of cultural beliefs on maternal

and newborn health care when it involves more than 2 groups or categories.

Fc = MsTr
MSe

Where: MsTr = mean sum of the square treatment

MsE = mean sum of the square error

The t – test denotes whether there is a significant difference between

reactions toward a certain issue or if there is a significant difference between

perceptions about a certain situation. It also denotes whether there is significant

difference between the characteristics of two groups (Calderon, 2000).

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t= X1 – X2

(n1 – 1) S12 + (n2 – 1) S22

(1/n1 + 1/n2)
 n1 + n2 - 2
Where:
X1 = Mean of the first sample

X2 = Mean of the second sample

n1 = number of respondents for group 1

n2 = number of respondents for group 2

S12 = variance of group 1

S22 = variance of group 2