CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The main purpose of this chapter is to further explain how the data used in the study were

gathered, analyzed, and interpreted in order to obtain a reliable result for the topic. This

chapter started by discussing the research design and why it was used in this study. It is

followed by the explanation of the reliability of the involved respondents, study site,

instrumentation, and data gathering procedure in producing valid results for the study. It

also enumerated the ethical considerations used in the research process.

A. Research Design

This paper is a qualitative research which used a case study method to gather,

analyze, and interpret relevant data regarding the development of the religious practices

of the Black Nazarene devotees in the Quiapo Church. A qualitative research is a research

design that emphasizes the study of an event or phenomenon from the perspective of its

participants (Lapan, Quartaroli, & Riemer, 2012). It generally uses an inductive reasoning

when analyzing and interpreting a data and it is often context-based; hence, it is

commonly used by researchers in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences. While a

case study is mainly concerned with the extensiveness of the real-life context of a

phenomenon (Yin, 2009).

A qualitative approach is appropriate for this study since it was context dependent

and the results were contingent on the accounts of the participants and some secondary

sources. The study was particular on the devotees of the Black Nazarene in the Quiapo

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area; thus, the interpreted and presented results may differ from the devotees outside the

area. Other groups of devotees may have more or fewer preparations and practices than

that of another, so the results of this study may apply only to those devotees in Quiapo,

Manila. These results were also gathered through interviews and some secondary sources

of information such as books and articles.

A case study method, specifically the explanatory case study, is also appropriate

for this research as it provides an in-depth study the development in the religious

practices of the Black Nazarene devotees in Quiapo, Manila that occurred during 2006 to

2016. The study analyzed the collective behavior of the devotees in the Quiapo area in

order to draw a reliable conclusion about the changes and maintenance in their religious

practices within a span of ten (10) years. It also used multiple sources of qualitative data

such as interviews and documents to interpret the results of the study accurately.

Furthermore, the results of the study were interpreted using the Symbolic

Interactionism Theory of George Herbert Mead, which examines the society through

people’s interactions and behavior in groups. It examined whether or not there is a

manipulation of symbols (by the devotees and non-devotees) that happened with regards

to the view on the development and interpretation of the meanings of the religious

practices . Hence, this study can be considered as a case study as it tested a theory in the

real-life context.

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B. Selection

The devotees of the Black Nazarene in the Quiapo Church and the non-devotees

attending masses in the Quiapo church or working within the Quiapo area were chosen to

be the respondents of the study. Devotees were chosen since they are the partakers in the

religious practices. Non-devotees were also chosen to be respondents for the sole purpose

of analzying and comparing their own interpretations and views on the religious practices

relating to the Black Nazarene devotion from that of the devotees. The researchers

focused on the Quiapo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene,

as it is located at the center of the Black Nazarene devotion—Quiapo, Manila. The

church is also the home of the image of the Black Nazarene.

C. Study Site

The study was conducted in the area of Quiapo, Manila where the Minor Basilica

of the Black Nazarene is located. Quiapo is one of the districts in Manila, Philippines.

The location is chosen because it is known to be the center of the Black Nazarene

festivity wherein millions of people are gathered to celebrate. Moreover, the researchers

limited the study to the Quiapo area because it is the place where many devotees of the

Black Nazarene are found and it is the center of the religious activities of the Black

Nazarene devotees.

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D. Instrumentation

The selection of respondents was conducted through a purposive sampling. The

researchers chose and divided the respondents into three (3) clusters according to their

age groups namely the youth, middle-aged, and senior citizens. Each cluster was

comprised of four (4) respondents, two (2) devotees and two (2) non-devotees, having a

total of 12 respondents. This selection process was done since the research is a case study.

Through this, varying responses from different people may be compared relative not only

to their personal experiences but also to the respective outset of their devotion.

The participants’ responses were then analyzed through contextual analysis—

examining both the devotees and non-devotees’ attached meaning on the religious

practices and its development—using Mead’s Symbolic Interactionism Theory.

E. Ethical Considerations

The following ethics were considered in the process of collecting, analyzing, and

interpreting the data and results of the study so as to ensure that no being, human or not,

were harmed because of the study:

• Objectivity

The researchers remained to be objective in terms of gathering and

interpreting data in order to avoid bias and yield results that are not in any

way manipulated by the researchers. Objectivity should always be considered

as it will greatly affect the outcome of the study. It is a necessary tool to

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 ensure that the inquiries are properly addressed by means of an imperative

methodology and a neutral stance on the subject matter.

• Carefulness

In obtaining the results for the study, the proponents aspired to produce results

which are reliable and credible so that it can make a significant contribution to

the human knowledge and the society. Thus, carefulness is considered for this

purpose. This research was critically examined and conducted with caution to

avoid unnecessary errors and lapses on the outcomes.

• Confidentiality

The study also aimed to protect the privacy of its respondents and everyone

who is involved herewith; hence, the researchers protected the disclosed

personal information, and ensured that the details of the private

communications that took place were kept confidential, especially without

consent. Confidentiality of such data utilized in the accomplishment of this

research is necessary as it is an execution of privacy, one of the rights of the

human subjects of the study, specifically the Black Nazarene devotees.

• Honesty

The gathered results may be used as resources for future studies; hence,

honesty is a critical consideration for this research as it may also affect the

future research on the topic. The researchers also aimed to avoid any errors

that may lead to misinterpretations and falsifications of data by truthfully

reporting the data collected and the results of the study.

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• Integrity

Integrity was also vital in the research paper because it may validate the

truthfulness of the presented results and study conducted as a whole. It may be

a believable source of information for the other researchers, so the researchers

ensured the objectivity, honesty, and reliability of the results of the study.

• Openness

The proponents of the study are fully aware that some people may not have

the share the same point view and values with them. Hence, openness was

also considered in this study. It is also because of this quality that mutual

respect can be observed.

• Social Responsibility

The study also geared towards the goal of providing its participants and

audience social good and preventing any infliction of harm towards them. The

researchers takes full responsibility in setting the standard of what is good and

what is bad. Furthermore, the researchers also accept the task of preventing

the possible harms that may be inflicted to its audience and fellow researchers.

• Legality

Legality must always be considered as the perception of the audience may be

affected when they learn that the study abides by the law. It is, then, the duty

of the researchers to abide by the rules and regulations set by the higher

authorities.

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 • Human Subject Protection

The research intends to protect, and minimize harm, and maximize the

benefits that the respondents may receive through this study. The researchers

have always aimed to help the people involved in the study by respecting their

privacy, autonomy, and dignity, and by taking special precautions for the

respondents who were in jeopardy.

F. Data Gathering

The data collection of the study was administered through a personal interview

with the respondents from the group of devotees and the group of non-devotees. That

technique is a conduit to obtain primary involvement and direct contact between the

researcher, and the interviewee so that the research findings could eliminate any

nonresponse rates or possible misconception when interpreted by the respondent.

Moreover, the tool for furnishing the collection of data was utilized in a semi-

structured questionnaire as only a guide for the researcher to fully develop the emerging

participation of the respondents to the research study. The semi-structured interview

helped the research to flow in accordance with the crucial points of the study, particularly

the research objectives, wherein the researcher initially drafted the key questions, but

would still consider expounding the question depending to the accuracy and reliability of

the information provided by the respondent. The semi-structured interview questions are

also provided. See Appendix.

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