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Chapter II

METHODOLOGY

This chapter is about the procedure and methodology undertaken by the

researchers in collecting data to address the objectives of this study. This include

the research methods and design, role of the researcher in the conduct of the

study, description and justification of the choice of the research participants and

sites, data collection. The part of this research will also explore the issue on

trustworthiness which included credibility, conformability, transferability,

dependability, ethical consideration and the analysis of the research data.

Research Design

This research utilized the procedure of investigation on the different

inquiries on menstrual experiences of Sto. Tomas National High school Female

Adolescence students. A qualitative research design in a phenomenology

approach has been utilized in the research. Qualitative research is a study that

deals with the variations in analytic procedures with an aim to gather and

adequately validate and interpret social phenomena in a systematic and

descriptive way.

Furthermore, Phenomenology as an approached to qualitative research

focuses on the commonality of a live experience within a particular group. The

fundamental goal of the approach is to arrive at a description of the nature of the

particular phenomenon. Typically, interviews are conducted with a group of

individuals who have first- hand knowledge of an event, situation or an

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experience. Thus, the inquiry process consists of: in depth interviews of the

seven fellows of the female adolescent students; and focus group discussion of

another set of the same number of female adolescent students.(Creswell, 2013).

In addition, to the goal of qualitative phenomenological research, it aims to

describe a lived experience of a phenomenon. Since this study has utilized a

qualitative analysis of narrative data, methods to analyze data are quite different

from more traditional or quantitative methods of research, which is essentially,

more focused on the meaning of the experience, behavior, narrative, etc.

(Creswell, 2013). Moreover, according to Lincoln and Guba (1985), in order to

ensure the quality and accuracy implementation of strategies of multiple sources,

methods, investigators and theories are needed.

This study is phenomenological in nature for we have accounted the

personal experiences of the female adolescent students who are naturally

experiencing menstruation, as well as how these affect their academic and social

lives. By this, we employed various methods, such as in-depth interview and

focus group discussion in order to collect and saturate the data required in the

study.

First, in the interview, seven members of the female adolescent students

were asked and then analyzed their responses afterwards. The researchers

must be careful to different concerns like: Gatekeepers or the access of to the

group; Key informants or the individuals who provide valuable insights into the

group; Reciprocity, between the investigator and the subjects being studied; and

Reactivity or the impact of the researcher on the site and the people being
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studied. Interview is the core of data collection. It is a great help in gathering

data, but if the participants’ answer is unclear, the researcher must have follow

up questions for probing. Thus, this study run interviews (Glaser, 1996).

Moreover, we have also conducted an in-Depth interview to the female

adolescent students. They are considered as the key informants who willingly

shared their insights and experiences in menstrual. These key informants

primarily include the female adolescence students, since we firmly believed that

they have shared and direct experiences that definitely defined and illustrated

what menstrual is all about.

Furthermore, we also utilized triangulation for validity purposes. Validity in

qualitative research refers to the results or findings of the study which are true

and certain. "True" in the perspective that the research findings accurately

reflect the situation and "certain" in the sense that research finding have been

supported by evidences. Thus, triangulation refers to the method utilized by the

qualitative researchers to check and establish validity in their studies by

analyzing research questions from multiple perspectives and it has different

types which are as follows: Data Triangulation, Investigator Triangulation, Theory

Triangulation, Methodical Triangulation, and Environmental Triangulation (Guion

et al., 2013).

Triangulation of Methodology and Triangulation of Data has been

employed in this study. Results from surveys, focus groups, and interviews can

be compared to see if the outcomes that have been found are examples of

methodological triangulation. If the conclusions from each method are the same,
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then the validity is established. While this method is popular, it generally requires

more resources and more time to analyze the information that has been yield

with the use of the different methods.

For the methodology, we have used two methods in conducting the study.

First, is through the use of an in-depth Interview (IDI) to female adolescence

students themselves. The second method is through the use of focus -group

discussion (FGD).

Data Triangulation is the second type of triangulation that has been

utilized in this research, wherein it involved the use of the different sources of

information in order to increase the validity of the study. In extension, the

researcher’s use of different sources is perhaps the most popular because it is

the easiest way to implement data triangulation, particularly well-suited for

extension given the different stakeholder groups that have vested interest in the

programs. Thus, in the collecting the data, we believe that female adolescent

students best suits in our study for they have direct contact on the menstrual

experiences.

Role of the Researcher

In this qualitative research, the role of the researchers is an important

matter to be considered in the successful pursuit of

investigation of this social phenomenon. In this study, we are amenable and

capable to pursue such research on the menstrual experiences of the female

adolescent students particularly in Sto. Tomas National High School because

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we, girls experience it ourselves. Although, we have some prejudices and

partialities on the response of the participants and informants on the in-depth

interview and focus group discussion, we firmly see to it that the theories and

related studies has been valued and considered in the study.

With respect to our fundamental roles, we have followed the principle

which states that the researcher in a qualitative analysis readily and eagerly

devote oneself on an extensive time of collecting and analyzing data, does

reflexivity and write lengthy passages all by themselves. For this reason, as

researchers, we have played the following roles: interviewer, transcriber,

translator, analyst and encoder.

First, as an interviewer, we established an approachable and pleasant

rapport with the participants and informants of our study. We first asked

permission from the participants and informants before performing the interview.

While on the process of the interview, we have also asked questions and

supported it with more questions that require deep answers. Next, we have

transcribed the responses of the participants and informants with much effort, as

well as translated their responses with respect to the thought of the response and

then encoded the responses in order to appear more presentable. Lastly, as an

analyst of this study, we make sure that only relevant and suitable analysis

methods and procedures are utilized.

Thus, it is the duty of the researchers to interpret the meaning of data

being collected since researchers are considered to be as the primarily

instrument for the collection and analysis of data.

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Research Participants

This section describes the participants of the research and specifies the

inclusion and exclusion of the participants, as well the number to be considered.

Hence, the selection of the participants and informants were based on the

research questions and chosen through purposive sampling technique. As

Creswell explains, purposive sampling considers a particular group of people or

when the desired population for the study is rare or very difficult to locate, it may

be the only option (Creswell, 2007; Creswell, 2013).

In this phenomenological study, some criteria have been utilized for

selection of participants like the nature of the phenomenon, suitability of the

experiences of the subjects, and theoretical perspective. The participants and

informants of this study are the female adolescent students of Sto. Tomas

National High School because of the immense populace of female adolescence

students in this locality.

Furthermore, a total of 14 female adolescent students are included in this

study. Respectively, female adolescence students sare the informants for the in-

depth interview and the other seven are the participants for the focus group

discussion. Thus, the identified number of participants and informants, which is

more than six, is enough to attain the saturation point where themes can be

extracted (Mason, 2010).

Data Collection
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As researchers of this study, we have taken and employed specific steps,

as well as utilized several useful instruments in order to collect the necessary

and relevant data, which are written as follows:

First, we have prepared the needed instruments that will serve as strong

evidence that all written information and gathered data are solely from the

informants and participants. Instruments such as camera for video recording

purpose and voice recorder are utilized. Respectively, the camera for video

recording purpose provides a factual basis for the expressions of the informants

on how they express their answers, while the voice recorder serves as a very

important tool for it provides a clear voice record of what have been said in the

interview and enables the researcher to have a tool which can be used as a

reference if in any case, something has been forgotten or needs to be clarified.

Second, before conducting the interview, participants and informants for

the in-depth interview and focus group discussion are identified through a

purposive sampling technique. A request to sign consent forms with stipulated

condition are sent to the participants and informants, which will tell if they

concede and agree to willingly and voluntarily participate and impart their

knowledge as needed in the study.

Third, the participants and informants are given a simple and brief

orientation about the study. Regardless of their gender and year level, they are

divided into two groups with seven members each, and respectively asked the

first seven to participate as the participants in the in-depth interview and the other

seven for the focus group discussion.

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In-depth interview pertains to the type of interview which involved asking

informants with open-ended and probing questions, which are necessary to

obtain data thought useful to the study. While, the Focus-Group Discussion

(FGD) pertains to a type of method in collecting data wherein the participants are

defined as a group of interacting individuals having some common interest or

characteristics, brought together by a moderator, who used the group and its

interaction as a way to gain information about a specific or focused issue (Cohen

& Manion, 1994; Stewart & Shamdasani, 1991)

Fourth, the process has started with an introductory phase wherein we, as

the researchers, welcomes the informants and participants and introduces the

purpose of the discussion. Furthermore, the moderator has also set the

parameters of the interview of length and confidentiality. The researcher explains

why there is a need to record the interview and what sort of technical issues may

rise in the discussion forum. Hence, we have also stressed that the discussion is

all about sharing of thoughts and personal views about their menstrual

experiences (Cheng & Dörnyei, 2007).

Lastly, the data that have been gathered in the interview where

transcribed, translated, presented and discussed, as well as analyzed in order to

concretize ideas needed in the study.

Data Analysis

Given that qualitative analysis systematically organized data by arranging

and dividing it into manageable chunks that can be used for synthesizing and
 30

discussing the significance. The used of recorders for audio and video was

utilized as a tool to document the course of interview. A systematic and retrieved

documentation of views were dealt with in the analysis of data which also entails

an in-depth analysis of raw data (Bogdan and Biklen; 1982).

As suggested by the qualitative analysis and in order to analyze the

collected data, first, collected documents and data from the in-depth interview

were analyzed according to the views of the informants and participants. Then,

data were transcribed into written texts verbatim to ensure great accuracy and in

view of the fact that transcription is an integral part of the qualitative analysis

(Lapadat and Lindsay 1998).

Next to the transcription of data from the in-depth interview of the

informants and participants, data from the verbatim transcription were translated,

from the use of the informants and participant’s vernacular language to Standard

English, still in accordance to the perception of the interviewees.

The use of semiotic analysis was utilized in the attempt to provide

responses to the primary concern of the research questions which is the semiotic

features of the menstrual experiences. Since media and Internet plays a very

important role in people’s lives, there is a need to study and analyze the media

images Semiotic analysis serves as a tool in order to understand how signs work

within the meanings behind the signs and a key element to understand and

decode the significant visual messages used by the media (Barthes, 1964;

Peirce, 1931; Saussure, 1983).

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Furthermore, in attempt to provide responses to the research questions

managing the study, thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis of data

were also utilized. Thematic analysis is a very useful research tool and method of

analyzing and reporting complex, rich account of data and themes, while

qualitative content analysis focuses on the unique themes that illustrates the

range of meanings from the phenomena rather than on numeric significance,

focusing on the characteristics of the language in communication and contextual

meaning of the text (Boyateis, 1998 and Roulston, 2001; Hseih and Shannon

2005).

Finally, as suggested by the thematic analysis and qualitative content

analysis, the predominant themes from the coded and written texts were grouped

together into major themes that reflect the various aspects of the phenomenon

according to main themes, frequency and core ideas (Boyateis, 1998 and

Roulston, 2001; Hseih and Shannon 2005).

Trustworthiness

When we have conducted the qualitative research, we seriously put into

account the responses of our qualified informants. We also carefully considered

all the details of the data and meticulously check and recheck all the

transcriptions and the importance of the data that is related to each other

themes.

The choice of the legitimacy of the procedures was suggested by Creswell

& Miller (2000) to establish trustworthiness and credibility. The discussions about
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trustworthiness are governed by the research lens and its paradigm assumptions

that can help the procedures in the study. For this, we have to ensure that all the

responses of the informant’s truthfulness are observed.

Credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability are the four

given factors to be considered in setting up trustworthiness of the study cited by

Lincoln and Guba (1985). These factors support the concept that the

researcher’s findings are worth paying attention to which is identified from the

common experimental models mention above.

Credibility, according to Lincoln & Guba (1985), is an evaluation of

whether or not the research findings present a "credible" conceptual

interpretation of the data drawn from the participant’s original data. We have

made sure to maintain credibility of our study by conducting interviews with

honesty and with the support of different audio-visual records. We also ensure

that the participants in this qualitative study are all female adolescent students

that are currently studying at Sto. Tomas National High School.

Furthermore, to address credibility, we used two techniques. First, we

presented the credibility of the experiences as intent of truthfully illustrating and

knowing the facts which were phenomenon in which my participants are

included. Second, in designing the research procedure, we conducted a focus

group discussion which extracted ideas about the menstrual experiences of the

female adolescent students. In this study, we held the informants’ best answer

that is reflected in response to this study. Thus, our primary intention here is to
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create layers of data from each participant as this technique provides a richer

and credible data (Lincoln & Guba, (1985).

Transferability, on the contrary, according to Lincoln & Guba (1985),

refers to the degree to which the results of this inquiry can be apply or transfer

beyond the bounds of the project. Moreover, the qualitative researcher can

enhance transferability by doing a thorough job of describing the research. To

address this transferability in this study, we include in the appendix several of the

data analysis documents used to give answer to research questions in order to

get access to the possible queries. Thus, this will give other researchers the

ability to transfer the conclusions or possible recommendation as basis for further

study.

Dependability, on the other hand, refers to the assessment of the quality

of integrated process of data analysis, and phenomenal explanation. The idea of

dependability stresses the need for the researcher to account for the changing of

context within the research according to Lincoln & Guba, (1985).

Moreover, it is concern with whether we would obtain the same results if

we could perceive the same results if we are measuring twice, we are two

different things based on the definition.

Conformability is a measure of how well the inquiry’s finding are

supported by the collected (Lincoln & Guba, (1985). In order to address the

concern of dependability and confirmability in this study and on account of the

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participants’ privacy, I cautiously taken the responses with their identity

considered as confidential.

Afterwards, the video and audio tape records have been transcribed and

the texts are then given back to the respondents for verification purposes, as well

as to sign for verification forms if they have conceded to what has been

transcribed by the researchers. All participants have been given the chance to

review transcripts and add anything that might have been left out. For

confirmability, we asked the audit of a qualified peer who is a language teacher.

After the completion of our data analysis, the results in Chapter Four (4) and the

discussion of Chapter Five (5), our auditor will assess carefully our audit trail with

original transcripts from the interview, data analysis documents. The auditor will

assess the dependability and confirmability of study by the signing the verification

letter.

Group of experts have checked the collected data and interpretations that

have been formed. Hence, this increases the trustworthiness, credibility,

transferability, dependability and conformability of the study.

Ethical consideration

The primary and sole concern of our study is individuals aged 10-19 years

old or adolescent girls, who are experiencing menstruation. Thus, in order for

them to not lose trust on me and ensure their safety, we have followed several

ethical standards in conducting this study as indicated by Boyatzis (1998) and

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Mack et al (2005). These ethical standards are the following: respect for persons,

consent, beneficence, confidentiality and justice.

Respect for persons, obligate the researcher to avoid exploiting the

weaknesses of the research participants. Self-sufficiency has been avoided in

order to maintain rapport, trust and confidence among the participants and the

researcher. Beforehand, we have asked permission from the participants if we

could conduct an interview where the collection of data fits to, through writing a

letter of permission to conduct a study (Creswell, 2012). Thus, this has been

done as a respect to the individuals concern to the study.

Consent, according to Creswell (2012), is another way of showing respect

to the persons involve in the research. This is to let all participants become

aware on the purpose and objectives of the research study that they are going to

involve. Written consent has also been provided, for them to approve. Then, after

getting their nod, they have actively participated the in-depth interviews and

focus group discussions. Thus, they were informed on the results and findings of

the study.

Beneficence demands a commitment of minimizing risks to the research

participants rather maximizing the profits that are due to them. Anonymity of the

interviewee was kept in order not to put each participant into risks. At all times,

participants were protected, so every file of information were not left unattended

or unprotected (Bricki and Green, 2007).

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Confidentiality towards the results and findings including the safeguard

of the participants, coding system were used, has also been observed by the

researcher. This means that the participants’ identities are hidden (Maree and

Van Der Westhuizen, 2007). Furthermore, as recommended by Maree and Van

Der Westhuizen (2007), all materials including videotapes, encoded transcripts,

notes, and others should be destroyed after the data were being analyzed. At

some point during the interview, there are some informants who feel hesitant to

be interviewed at first because they were afraid of what to say. However, we

have given them a reassurance that their response will be treated with

confidentiality. With that, they later on have given us the chance and showed

comfort in answering the interview questions. Thus, we have also observed

extensive caution with our questions, as a due respect to the importance to this

study.

Justice, on the other hand, demands a reasonable allocation of the risks

and benefits as results of the research. It is very important to acknowledge the

contributions of all the participants as they generally part of the success of the

research. They must be given due credits in all their endeavors (Bloom and

Crabtree, 2006). They were not able to spend any amount during the interview.

Furthermore, sensible tokens are given to them as a sign of recognition to their

efforts and participation on the study. Thus, as the researcher, we are hoping

that through this study, they will be set free into whatever negative experiences

they had and maintain a good name into what positive contributions they could

offer in this study.