Chapter II

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the method and the procedure used in the study. It

includes the research design, population and locale of the study, data gathering

instruments and procedure management.

Research Design

This study used the qualitative phenomenological research method.

A phenomenological research is a study that attempts to understand people’s

perceptions, perspectives and understandings of a particular situation (or

phenomenon). Qualitative research is primarily on exploratory research. It is

used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations.

Phenomenological studies examine human experiences through the descriptions

provided by the people involved. These experiences are called lived experiences.

The goal of qualitative phenomenological research is to describe lived

experiences of narrative data and the methods to analyze its data must be quite

different from more traditional or quantitative methods of research (Water, 2017).

Phenomenology is a relevant philosophic methodology that is utilized to

describe the phenomena of nursing students who were forced to take the nursing

program in Lorma Colleges. Phenomenology seeks to gain the truth of these

experiences through the consciousness of the experiencer.

In this study, this method determined and explored the challenges of

nursing students who were forced to take nursing. In addition, the researchers
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identified the challenges faced by the participants as well as their strategies to

deal with the challenges encountered.

Participants and Locale of the Study

The researchers chose 15 participants using random sampling technique

with the following inclusion criteria; ages 18-24 years old, was forced to take up

nursing, and enrolled in the nursing. The study was undertaken in Lorma

Colleges, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union.

Data Gathering Tool

The researchers used an interview guide that tackles the challenges and

strategies used by the nursing student. The interview guide is composed of two

open-ended questions that focused on the perspective of participants in

answering the questions according to their experiences. Moreover, personal

observations and personal interview was conducted to enrich the tool for more

accurate data gathering.

The questions answered the objective of the study which is to describe the

challenges faced by the nursing students and to determine the strategies in

dealing with the challenges they encounter. The researchers followed an

interview guide to let the participants answer the questions openly, freely and

honestly.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers began this study by first securing a permission to conduct

a research. The purpose of this study, method of administration of the research

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instruments, the date of administration and retrieval of the research instruments

were explained.

Prior to data gathering, the researchers obtained a formal letter of request

to the Dean of College of Nursing in Lorma Colleges, Carlatan, San Fernando

City, La Union in order to seek permission in gathering information to potential

respondents and conduct an initial interview. Before conducting interviews to the

participants, the researchers surveyed the place and explain briefly the concern

and significance of the study to the Dean. An interview guide and set of

questions were followed as the participants answer the specific topic. In

conducting the interview, the participants were encouraged to cooperate and be

genuine in answering the questions and the researchers reassured the

confidentiality of their responses. The researchers obtained a consent from the

participants with regards to photo and video documentation as well as audio

recordings. The interviews were tape recorded and then transcribed by the

researchers.

Data Management

After the data gathering, the researchers discussed about the data

obtained. The researchers transcribed all data that was collected from audio and

video recordings into written form for closer study. After collating the transcripts,

the researchers clustered the data to reduce the amount of data by categorizing

or grouping similar data items together. The transcripts were coded using their

initials. When all the data were already coded and clustered, the researchers

proceeded in formulating the major themes and subthemes through adapting

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some road signs for a more interesting way of data interpretation. The data

gathered were analyzed and there were two themes that were produced giving a

clear picture of the challenges that nursing students experienced in the nursing

program. The first main theme is “Red Light” which has 6 subthemes: 1) Wrong

Way 2) Minimum Speed 3) Dead End 4) Slippery Road 5) Narrow Road Ahead 6)

Overloading. The second main theme is “Green Light” which has 6 subthemes:

1.) Ahead Only 2.) Give way 3.) Approach to Intersection 4.) Slow Down 5.)

Check Brakes 6.) Uphill Sign.