3.1.

1 Phenomenology

A phenomenological study is an approach to qualitative research that describes

the common meanings of lived experiences of a phenomenon by individuals (Creswell, 2013).
The researchers, while choosing the tricycle drivers as their participants, will focus on describing
what these individuals have in common as they experience a phenomenon, i.e. motorized-tricycle
transportation. Phenomenology will allow the researchers to show how composite meanings are
formed out of simple units of direct or lived experience (Merriam, 2002). These lived
experiences will supplement the data that will be collected, and through these, descriptions of the
essence or structure of experiences shall be made. These descriptions will consist of “what” the
tricycle drivers experience and “how” they experience it.

As the researchers will give emphasis to motorized-tricycle transportation as a

phenomenon to be explored, they will focus more on the descriptions of the experiences of
tricycle drivers. In order to understand the essence of these experiences, the researchers will
temporarily set aside or “bracket” their natural attitudes about the phenomenon. New sets of
perspectives are expected to be discovered. The researchers will follow systematic procedures in
analyzing the data collected from tricycle drivers experiencing the same phenomenon. The
researchers will focus on narrow units to broader units of analysis to develop descriptions that
will be incorporated to discover themes. Following these processes, the researchers will build
textural description of the experiences of the tricycle drivers (what they experience), a structural
description (e.g. experience in terms of situations) and an idea of the essence of the experience
(Creswell, 2013).

3.2 PROCEDURES

In order to attain the goals of the research study, the researchers started by
gathering evidences that will contribute to reasonable conclusions as to whether or not a
particular issue is caused by a particular event. Procedures of the data gathering are as follows:

1. Pre-data collection phase

3.2.1 Site Visit or Research Locale
 This study will be conducted in Tondo, Manila for the fulfillment of the group’s
initial data gathering. Initially, the researchers will schedule a site visit within the areas of
Manila wherein profuse motorized tricycle vehicles are seen or exists and seemingly heavily
unregulated. Here, the researchers will gather basic information of the Tricycle Operators and
Drivers’ Association (TODAs), ordinances, estimated number of motorized tricycle vehicles
(both formal and informal) within a barangay, and some of the authorities or institutions
responsible for regulation. Further, this study will also gather data in a different location (District
2, Tondo) and are partially informed about the formation, the requirements needed, and the
ordinances that should be obeyed in the establishment of the formal motorized tricycle
transportation as well as TODAs. Through a whole day site visitation, hopefully the researchers
will be able to locate the numerous motorized tricycles, both formal and informal, in Tondo.

3.2.2 Writing Participant Information Sheets and Consent Forms

Prior to some of the basic information that will be gathered by the researchers
from the initial data gathering, the institutions and agencies that are responsible for the regulation
of the motorized tricycle transportation is the target participants of the researchers. The
researchers will draft both participant information sheets and consent forms as an initial manner
of formal data collection. Participant information sheets provide potential participants with the
necessary understanding of the purpose, methods, risks and benefits of the research and the
planned use of the data to be collected to make an informed decision as to whether they would
participate in the research project. These will also provide the participants with information to
answer any questions that they might have. These will be written in understandable languages,
both English and Tagalog.

The researchers will also draft consent forms that will be given to the participants
prior to the data gathering to determine how much the participants understand the topic and how
willing they are to participate in the study. The participants will choose to sign while knowing
that the consent includes no undue inducement or any element of force, fraud, duress or any
forms of constraint or coercion. Sufficient information must be presented (in understandable
language) so that the potential subjects can make an informed judgment about participation. And
so, the researchers will write the consent forms in both English and Tagalog transcribes as well.
3.2 3. Drafting Research Questionnaires

First, a Socio Demographic Profile will be drafted by the researchers that allows
to determine whether the researchers are actually reaching their target audience and whether or
not the researchers are gathering the information they are effectively seeking. The Socio
Demographic Profile questionnaires will include the characteristics of the participants or
population. Generally, these are the age, gender, ethnicity, education level, income, type of
client, years of experience, location, etc. are being considered as socio-demographics and will be
asked in this kind of survey, this will be written in Tagalog for convenience and easier
understanding. Second, the researchers will draft a Focus Group Discussion questions which is
anchored form the written statement of the problem. There will be different questions provided
for the Formal and Informal motorized tricycle drivers and those of the Government Officials.
This will be written in both understandable languages, in English and Tagalog.

3.2.4. Pre Test and Validation

Pre Testing is a method of checking the questions work as intended and are
understood by those individuals who are likely to respond to them. Through this process the
researchers will be able to measure the reliability and clarity of the survey questions. To be
reliable, a survey question must be answered by respondents the same way each time. Validation
of the questionnaires on the other hand checks on the accuracy of each questions that will be
given. A triangulation method will be conducted wherein the drafted questionnaires will undergo
checking and validation form different perspectives.

3.2.5 Interview

The researchers will also utilize interview as one of the methods in gathering data
because it allows the researchers to carefully select knowledgeable individuals and obtain
information from topics which are commonly complex and difficult to understand. The first
initial interview will be conducted in Manila City Hall at the Motorized Tricycle Regulatory
Office (MTRO) that aims for an in-depth analysis of the role of this institution to the policy
process and implementation in the regulation of both formal and informal tricycle terminals.
Here, the researchers will be informed about the rules and ordinances and other legal affairs to
which motorized tricycle transportation should follow and take part to. Also, the researchers will
know about how MTRO regulates and conducts its operations to encourage the informal tricycle
drivers to cooperate.

3.2.6 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)

Aside from interviews, data gathering includes focus group discussions because
the researchers are conducting a research study that is qualitative in nature and that the key
contribution of this method is that this process gathers information from individuals with similar
backgrounds that is in line with the study. According to Burnham (2008), it allows the
respondents to encourage one another to provide information based on a range of experiences
and their differing views on the topic at hand. The individual's participation in the focus group
discussion is usually led by a trained facilitator that results into a more extensive understanding
of an issue.

(Post data collection phase)

3.2.7 Validation of Data

All the data that the researchers will gather will also undergo the validation
process, Data quality is vital to ensure accuracy and reliability, it to ensure that all the
datas gathered are clean, correct and useful.
3.2.8 Consultation
Good communications and consultation are central to the research process and
assume critical importance when dealing with changes in working practices and
procedures. The researchers will thereby schedule a consultation to an adviser in order to
be effective by means of exchanging information which necessitates to the whole process
of the study from the beginning. Failure to recognize this need may result in
inconsistency of approach or application.

METHODS

3.3.1 Survey
 The researchers will conduct an explanatory, cross-sectional survey using close-
ended questions. The survey questionnaire will be given to the same participants in the focus
group discussion. The data that will be obtained through this survey will only be utilized for the
researchers to establish the socio demographic profile of the participants. Hence, it will not affect
the results of this study.

The first part of the survey questionnaire will include the following: name, age,
sex, marital status, province, city address, level of education and number of household members.
The second part of the survey will be about their daily operation as motorized tricycle drivers.

3.3.2 Focus Group Discussion (FGD)

The researchers will facilitate a focus group discussion among the chosen
motorized tricycle drivers. There will be a total of six FGDs. Each group will be composed of six
to eight participants. For every FGD, there will be three researchers who will be assigned as the
moderator, secretary and the video recorder. The location of the focus group discussion will be
(____). It will be conducted on (____).

Focus group discussion is a discussion that is typically based on a series of

questions posed by the moderator, while allowing the members to participate wholly to keep a
continuous conversation. Moreover, the moderator has to actively encourage the participants to
interact with each other. This discussion among the participants has been termed as the
“hallmark” of focus group research (Morgan, 1988:12). The secretary will be responsible for
capturing the discussion and taking down notes. The discussion recorded will be transcribed by
the researchers and which will then be analyzed. Thematic analysis will be the approach to be
used by the researchers to analyze the data collected during the FGD.

The guide questions for the FGD will include the following: the reason why they
choose motorized tricycle transportation as their source of income; if they will be given the
opportunity to have another job will they still work as a motorized tricycle driver; if they know

about the City Ordinance 8291 and if they are aware of the documents that they
need to submit for them to be given a tricycle franchise.

3.3.3 Key Informant Interview

 The researchers will perform a face-to-face, semi-structured interview. There will
be a list of questions and topics that will be covered during the interview. The interview schedule
will use both closed and open-ended questions, thereby allowing the informant to express freely
and to explain the topics briefly and clearly. The questions will be listed in a particular order, but
the researchers will also be allowed to ask questions that are not included in the guide. There will
be a separate list of questions for each respondent. The respondents for the interview are the
following: Mr. Julio S. Galang, Director of Motorized Tricycle Regulatory Office, and Ms.
Ofelia Granado, President of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association in the City of
Manila. Furthermore, the researchers will also conduct a specialized interview with the experts
in the field of motorized tricycle transportation studies, public policy, public administration and
urbanization.

The key informants will be asked about the institutional policies concerning the
establishment and operation of motorized tricycle transportation in the City of Manila, the
primary functions of MTRO and MTPB, the process of their policy formulation and their plans
to address the issue of illegal motorized tricycles.

3.3.4 Direct Observation

The researchers will use a direct, unobtrusive and unstructured observation. The
participants will not be aware that they are being observed by the researchers. Moreover, there
will be no restrictions as to what are the things to be observed. Specifically the researchers will
be particular to observe the participants’ interaction, level of cooperation, attitude, behavior,
facial expressions, and gestures.

3.4 POPULATION AND SAMPLING

Since the researchers are using qualitative inquiry, it is needed that they
understand the meaning of motorized tricycle transportation from the perspectives of
participants, the tricycle drivers. Thus, the researchers will use purposive sampling, a type of
non-probability sampling technique, to examine the different angles of the study. This sampling
technique depends on the judgment of the researchers when it comes to the tricycle drivers who
are to be studied. This will focus on particular characteristics of the target population for the goal
of having answers to the research questions. To begin with, the researchers will determine the
indicator/s essential in choosing the participants to be interviewed (Merriam, 2002). The study
will be conducted among the population of tricycle drivers whose ages range from 25 to 50 years
old.

3.5 METHODOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS

The methods and approaches that will be used in this study, however, contain
some methodological limitations that the researchers will take into considerations.
3.5.1 Phenomenology
Since the phenomenological approach will be used in this study, the researchers
will be able to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the participants’ experiences as well as
gather a rich source of information. The researchers will need to address few limitations in using
this approach. This includes the difficulty of attaining reliable and validated information. This is
because the information that the researchers will collect from the participants in this approach
will be consisting of a pure subjective judgment of the participants. This means that the
researchers will experience some constraints in translating the words in a manner that do not lose
the real meaning of the words being articulated by the participants. Furthermore, using this
approach in this study does not generate a generalized data since the experiences of the
participants are different which can make the researchers suffer from establishing general
statements of experiences of the participants.
3.5.2 Case Study
Common advantages of using case study as one of the approaches in this study
include being the most used research method and being able to explain or to examine the
complexities of real life situations. Since many researchers use this method, it will not be
difficult on the part of the practitioners to require the researchers to explain this method.
Furthermore, case studies help the researchers to explain the complexities of real life situations
which may not be depicted through other methods such as experimental or survey research.
Despite the given advantages, a case study can also possess some challenges.
These include great consumption of time in conducting the study and dependency on a single
case exploration. Since this type of method requires a detailed study of a single unit, it will then
require the researchers to spend a great time of collecting the data needed. Moreover, most case
studies often deal with a single case exploration. This means that the study is limited only to a
single unit, thus covering a small scope of study.
3.5.3 Triangulation
Triangulation offers researchers beneficial advantages. One of these is the
formulation of objective interpretation of data by which it reduces or extinguishes the
establishment of bias interpretation of data. Since there are two or more sources of information
that will be collected in this methodology, the researchers will use these sources of information
as to verify the other sources of information, thus establishing a concrete and objective data.
Triangulation also exhibits challenges. Some of these are time and cost which
may impede the researchers to produce an effective outcome. This will be observed when the
researchers are collecting data from different participants who may generate three possible
results. First is the convergence where all the information from different participants is collected.
The second possibility is the inconsistency which will result from a different data that would not
have a recurring theme. The third possibility is contradiction. This arises when the data collected
from different sources are not the same which will make researchers consume a great time and
cost in establishing a rigid explanation of data.
3.5.4 Unobtrusive Observation
There are number of advantages in using unobtrusive observation methodology
under the qualitative study. These include the study’s cost-effectiveness and the impossibility for
the Hawthorne effect. This type of methodology provides researchers cost-effectiveness for while
the participants are unaware that they are being observed, the researchers may be able to access
data without having to worry to pay the participants for their time. Further, the researchers will
allow themselves to collect data without having to introduce themselves to the participants as
researchers, thus minimizing the Hawthorne effect which would require the researchers to
introduce themselves as researchers.
This kind of methodology also possesses limitations. These include potential
difficulties with validity and the topics or questions that can be raised. The potential difficulty
with validity will be detected when the data being collected are not aligned to the aims or
purposes of the researchers since the identity of the researchers are not introduced to the
participants, thus leaving the researchers the difficulty of validating the information.
Furthermore, there may also be instances where the data sources of the participants do not
correspond or do not exist to the scope of the researchers’ studies. This forces the researchers to
adjust or twist the data in order to fit to the data available to them.
3.5.5 Unstructured Observation
A few advantages are observed in this methodology. These comprise a rich detail
of data and the unexpected behaviors of participants that are detected which can imply a good
source of information. Since the framework of observation is not fixed, the researchers will be
able to collect substantive information. This is done by letting the participants speak their
thoughts without limiting them by means of strict or structured observation. Similarly, the
impulsive behavior of participants can be observed through which can indicate a good source of
information for the study.
Accordingly, this kind of methodology faces challenges which include the
complexity of recording the behavior of the participants without available equipment and the
challenge of recording noticeable behavior which will not be relevant to the study. The
unavailability and ineffective instruments such as video and voice recorder for conducting this
method will obstruct the researchers to acquire solid sources of data. Similarly, the recording of
the instinctive behavior of the participants may not be relevant or significant to the study.
3.5.6 Semi-structured Interview
A semi-structured interview will provide the researches the following advantages.
These include a large amount of detail generated by the participants and a flexible and sensitive
manner of interrogation. Since the interview is conducted in open-ended questions, the
participants can freely express themselves through which the researchers can receive a large
amount of detailed information. Furthermore, this type of methodology will allow the researches
to conduct a flexible and a sensitive manner of interrogation. This is observed through semi-
structured questions presented in the form of letting the participants give their respective
responses in a manner that do not infringe or limit their expression.
There are also some challenges in using this type of methodology. These include
the difficulty of analyzing open-ended questions and a cause and effect cannot be inferred. Since
the manner of interrogating is open-ended, the researchers will have a hard time analyzing the
large amount of data which may not all be significant to the scope of study of the researchers.
Similarly, the researchers may face a language constraint in communicating to the participants.
Furthermore, this methodology will not provide a cause and effect framework. This is because
the questions that will be asked to the participants are not strictly structured by the researchers
which will generate a narrow explanation of data.
3.5.7 Key Informant Interview
The limitations of key informant interview can be presented in the narrow
perspective of the respondents in the topic that the researchers are conducting. This limitation
can affect the outcome of the study in such a way that the selected key informant may not have
adequate knowledge about the topic that the researchers are conducting. Furthermore, the key
informant may not tell the truth to the researchers to protect themselves or other people.
Similarly, the chosen key informant may have inaccurate information about the topic which
might suffer the researchers in establishing a truthful data. Because of this, the researchers must
be adept at choosing respondents who will not exhibit the preceding behaviors.
3.5.8 Purposive Sampling
There are advantages in using purposive sampling in this study. One of these is
the generation of an informative data by the participants which will be useful by the researchers
to formulate a reliable outcome of studies. Furthermore, the researchers will have the opportunity
to select participants who will best provide a truthful response to the study.
However, along with these advantages are the disadvantages which the
researchers may undergo. These comprise the accuracy of selecting participants which might not
have represented the population of the study and the possibility of instituting a sampling bias in
the study. Since the information is imbibed only by a representative of the population, this will
affect the outcome of the stud by limiting the generalization of the findings. Furthermore, this
kind of sampling will generate a sampling bias in the study. This is because of the selection of a
representative from the entire population is limited to few persons. Thus, the sources of
information will also be limited to the responses of those selected representatives.