Chapter 3

RESEARCH AND METHODS

This chapter discusses the different processes of research and
investigation used for product evaluation. The different methods and
tools were described further to emphasize how functional the methods
are in creating the proposed system.
Research Method

For the sake of having a successful research, the proponents

understand the different techniques of collecting data and information.

Listed below were some of the research methods that the proponents

used in carrying out the study of the proposed system.

Descriptive Research Method. This type of research method is

used to describe the data and characteristics used to describe about

being studied.

Online Research Method. This method let the proponents collect

related topics and relevant information using the internet for the

development of the proposed study. The information that the

proponents gathered helped them clarify and weigh ideas over the

topics involved in the system.

Respondent of the Study

The respondents of the study are elementary and high school with

age ranging 10 years old and above. All the chosen respondents are

qualified to answer the given questionnaire that is provided by the

proponents of the system.

Data Gathering Tools and Techniques

The proponents used a selection of data gathering instruments and

procedure. This was responsible for the creation and provision of a

relevant, accurate, and valid result for the study.

Observation. This type of tool is carefully and especially watches

the attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a

judgment. The proponents will observe the functions as well as the

workability of the proposed study.

Questionnaire. It is a list of question that aims to gather data. The

proponents will use this instrument to identify the problems and

possible solutions to the problems of the old system.

Survey. This technique is used to evaluate how effective the old

system and proposed system is. The survey will be conducted together

with the questionnaire. After the respondents answer the questions,

the researchers will describe the given responses.

Sampling Technique

A sampling technique is the name or other identification of the

specific process by which the entities of the sample have been

selected. It is used in the study intended to present some knowledge

about a population of this study. A sampling is obtained when it is

impossible to test or survey everyone in the group being researched.

The probability method of the sampling technique is 25 used to

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compute the probable events in the proposed study. This technique is

important for the researchers to examine the people comprised in the

study of the proposed system to get the accurate and useful

information.

Analytical Tool

Analytical tools are details of the system in an organized and

understandable manner. This tool will be used by the proponents to

discuss and compare the problems encountered in the existing system

and the proposed system.

Data Flow Diagram (DFD). It will be used to describe the process of

inputs into outputs. Data Flow Diagrams a graphic illustration that gives

the data flow and logic within the system.

Input Process Output (IPO). It is a graphical representation of all

the factors that make up a process. An input-process-output diagram

includes all of the materials and information required for the process,

details of the process itself, and descriptions of all products and by-

products resulting from the process.

Program Flowchart. A diagram which uses a set of standard

symbols to represent the sequence of operations of a computer

program. It visually presents the flow of data through an information

processing system.

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 System Flowchart. It is a graphical representation of the algorithm,

process, and flow of data within the system. System flowchart

represents the work process of the system itself.

Visual Table of Contents (VTOC). It is a tool utilized by the

proponents to give an overview of the program structured of the

proposed system. It is not detailed as the flowchart but it shows the

process of system.

Methods Used in Software Development

The proponents referred to the different method and systematic

approaches that the proponents will use in the analysis and design of

the software. A system development life cycle is composed of a

number of clearly defined and distinct work phases which are used by

system engineers and system developers to plan, design, build, test,

and deliver information systems. The researchers used software

development methodology to help the developing software in the study

and to show the process on how the system flows and implement

through devices.

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 Figure 3.0
Waterfall Development Model by I. Somerville

Figure 3.0 shows the Waterfall Development Model. It develops

systematically from one phase to another in a downward fashion. This

model is divided into different phases and the output of one phase is

used as the input of the next phase. Every phase has to be completed

before the next phase starts and there is no overlapping of the phases.

It consists of the following phases:

Requirements Definition. First phase of waterfall development

model which gathers all possible requirements. The proponents set the

features to be applied on the very beginning on planning the system by

listing the essential points in creating the system from scratch.

System and Software Design. Second phase of waterfall

development model which allocates the requirements to either

hardware or software systems by establishing an overall system

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architecture. Software design involves identifying and describing the

fundamental software system abstractions and their relationships. The

proponents selected the requirements needed in each process and

started to plan the system flow. This is where the features are studied

on how it will work by each category that the proponents are planning

to do.

Implementation and Unit Testing. Third phase of waterfall

development model where the software design is realized as a set of

programs or program units. Unit testing involves verifying that each unit

meets its specification. The proponents implements the features and

functions of the system. There might be changes in platforms for the

required application changes.

Integration and System Testing. Fourth phase of waterfall

development model is the individual program units or programs are

integrated and tested as a complete system to ensure that the software

requirements have been met. After testing, the software system is

delivered to the customer. The proponents will make sure to find

issues and bugs in the system before finalizing it.

Operation and Maintenance. Fifth phase of waterfall development

model, it is the longest life cycle phase. The system is installed and put

into practical use. Maintenance involves correcting errors which were

not discovered in earlier stages of the life cycle, improving the

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implementation of system units and enhancing the system's services

as new requirements are discovered.

Statistical Treatment of Data

A device, such as chart, that compares numerical data. The

statistical treatment of data is the organization, and interpretation of

numerical data, especially the analysis of population characteristics by

the inference of sampling. It is the study of the collection, organization,

analysis, interpretation and presentation of data It deals with all

aspects of data, including the planning of data collection in terms of the

design of survey and experiments.

Percentage Distribution. Percentage is another way of expressing a

proportion. A percentage is equal to the proportion times 100. The

percentage is calculated using the following formula:

Percentage (%) = Σ𝑓𝑁 x 100

Where:

Σ𝑓 - represents the cores in the distribution

N - represents the total number of respondents

Mean. It is an expected value used synonymously to refer one

Measure of the central tendency either of probability or of the random

Variable characterized by that the distribution. It is determined by

Adding all the data point in a population and the dividing the total by

the number of points. The resulting number is known as the mean

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or the average.

Mean(x̄) = Σ𝑥𝑁

Where:

Σ- represents the summation

x - represents the evaluator rating for each given criterion

N - represents the total number of respondents

Weighted Mean. It is an average computed by giving different

weights to some of the individual values. It is considered as the proper

weights assigned to the observed values according to their relative

importance. The weighted mean is calculated using the following

formula:

Weighted Mean (WM)=Σ (X1 + X2 + … + Xn)

N

Where:

Σ- represents the summation

x - represents the mean of each given criteria

N - represents the total number of criteria

Likert Scale. It is a scale commonly involved in research that employs

questionnaires. It is the most widely used approach in scaling

responses in survey research, such that the term is often used

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interchangeably with rating scale or more accurately. It contains

statement which the respondent is asked to evaluate according to any

kind of subjective or objective criteria.

Table 3.0

Likert Scale

Rate Scale Verbal Interpretation

4.51 – 5.00 5 Excellent

3.51 – 4.50 4 Very Satisfactory

2.51 – 3.50 3 Satisfactory

1.51 – 2.50 2 Fair

1.00 – 1.50 1 Poor

Table 3.0 shows the Likert Scale with its corresponding rating which

interprets the perception of the respondent to the effectiveness of the

motivation factors. The scale of 1 is Poor, 2 is Fair, 3 is equivalent to

Satisfactory, 4 is Very Satisfactory, and 5 is interpreted as Excellent.

This scale commonly involved in research that employs

questionnaires.

Condition:

If t (computed) < t (tabulated)

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 The proponents reject Ha and accept Ho

If t (computed) > t (tabulated)

The proponents accept Ha and reject Ho

Statistical Tools in Cost Benefit Analysis

Salvage value = (1/5)(actual cost)

Depreciation Cost

Depreciation cost = actual value – salvage value

Useful life span in years

Annual Return of Investment AROI = average benefit

Total investment cost

Standard Deviation. The standard deviation will be used to

measure the variability, measuring the spread of the data set and the

relationship of the mean to the rest of the data. If the data points are

close to the mean, indicating that the responses are fairly uniform, then

the standard deviation will be large. If all the data values are equal,

then the standard deviation will be zero. The standard deviation is

calculated using the following formula.

√∑𝑓 (𝑥−𝑥)2
s=
𝑛−1

Where:

Σ- represents the summation.

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 𝑋- represents the individual score.

𝑋́- represents the mean of all scores.

𝑛- represents number of respondents.

T-Test. A test of any number of hypotheses in inferential statistics

that has validity if sample size is sufficiently large and the underlying

data are normally distributed. The T-test is calculated using the

following formula.

𝑊𝑀𝑝−𝑊𝑀𝐸
t=
𝑆 2𝑆2
√ 𝑝+ 𝐸
𝑛𝑝 𝑛𝐸

Where:
𝑊𝑀𝑃- weighted mean of the proposed

system.

𝑊𝑀𝐸- weighted mean of the existing system.

𝑆𝑃2 - standard deviation of the proposed

system.

𝑆𝐸2 - standard deviation of the existing

system.

𝑛 - total number of criteria

Methods Used Software Evaluation

This section discusses how the result was evaluated in terms of the

performance of the system.

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 Technical Feasibility is a method used to determine if the

proposed system is in function to meet the needs of the user in terms

of technical considerations such as the development of technologies,

processes or services, the improvement or development of existing

products, the viability of extending or expanding facilities to meet

increased operational capacity needs, and investigating the potential or

application of new technologies or licensing new technologies. It is an

assessment of the practicality of a proposed system. This assessment

is based on an outline design of system requirements, to determine

whether the company has the technical expertise to handle completion

of the project. The purpose of the working model is to demonstrated, to

meet your own satisfaction, that the product or service is functional and

producible. It also provides a visual means to share your concept with

others.

Operational Feasibility is a method used to ensure that the system

will meet new changes or plans will fit into the existing systemic

framework and desired specifications. It defines the urgency of the

problem and the acceptability of any solution; Includes people oriented

and social issues, internal issues, such as manpower problems, labor,

objections, manager resistance, organizational conflicts and policies;

also external issues, including legal aspects and government

regulations, also social acceptability of the new system. Operational

feasibility is a measure of how well a proposed system solves the

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problems, and takes advantage of the opportunities identified during

scope definition and how it satisfies the requirements, identified in the

requirements analysis phase of system development. The operational

feasibility assessment focuses on the degree to which the proposed

system development projects fits in with the existing business

environment and objectives with regards to development schedule,

delivery date, corporate culture, and existing business processes.

Economic Feasibility is the analysis of project’s cost and revenues

in an effort to determine whether or not it is logical and possible to

complete. In this method the concern is the return of the investment.

The proponents would like to know in this part if the system would be

useful or beneficial? Is the project possible, given resource

constraints? Are the benefits that will accrue from the new system

worth the costs? What are the savings that will result from the new

system? The purpose of the economic feasibility assessment is to

determine the positive economic benefits to the organization that the

proposed system will provide. It includes quantification and

identification of all the benefits expected. This assessment typically

involves a cost/ benefits analysis. It is to demonstrate the net benefit of

a proposed project for accepting or disbursing electronic

funds/benefits, taking into consideration the benefits and costs to the

agency, other state agencies, and the general public as a whole.

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