Design and Methodology 23

Chapter 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the research design, population and

locale of the study, data gathering tools, data gathering

procedures and treatment of data and ethics consideration.

Research Design

This study made use of qualitative research design in its

effort to determine and deeply understood vehicular accidents. It

is to examine the said phenomenon in its very nature and its

impacts on the victims, law enforcers, community, and others. The

researchers used the descriptive investigation to provide an

elaborative narrative of the causes and effects of vehicular

accidents in Bokawkan Road. The study focused on finding the

facts regarding the issue and interpreting the best way possible.

Data was gathered from six informants using semi-structured

questions to determine the causes and impacts of vehicular

accidents as to the victims, the law and traffic enforcers and

the community. Documents will also be gathered to identify the

type of vehicles involved in accidents.

Population and Locale of the Study

The researchers limited the study on vehicular accidents

which occurred along Bokawkan Road, Baguio City. Bokawkan Road is

one of the tertiary roads of the city encompasses the road

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separating from the Magsaysay Flyover towards the right until it

reaches Hotel Cosmopolitan and intersection to Naguilian Road.

The researchers chose the road among other routes because of the

observed frequency and intensity of vehicular accidents in the

area stretch.

Informants were chosen to provide the necessary point of

view needed by the study. The informants comprised of two (2)

traffic investigators, two (2) resident witnesses and two (2)

drivers who were previously involved in a traffic accident. The

above informants were chosen to provide data for the study

because different aspects should be taken in to account. Traffic

investigators are the first person to respond to vehicular

accidents, to process the scene and finally to determine the

cause of an accident. It gives them the skill and experience to

explain the phenomenon. Residents of the locale who witnessed the

vehicular accident, on the other hand, will provide data as to

the experience of a victim and a resident facing a vehicular

accident. Lastly, no one can explain and describe the incident

better than the drivers with vehicular accident experiences.

Generally, the researchers used such population to take a look at

the different perspective of the people mainly involved and

affected by these accidents.

The informants were chosen using purposive sampling. The

study selected traffic investigators from police officers who

assigned Investigator-On-Case for a vehicular accident case in

 Design and Methodology 25

Bokawkan Road. The victim drivers were from those involved in the

accident whether they were the one who bumped into another motor

vehicle or other objects or the one got hit into by another motor

vehicle. Both traffic investigators were identified using records

from Baguio City Police Office Station 2. On the other hand, the

witnesses were from residents along Bokawkan Road who have

witnessed at least two vehicular accidents in the particular

road.

Data Gathering Tools

To identify the causes and impacts of vehicular accidents,

the researchers used the face-to-face semi-structured interview

with traffic investigators, resident witnesses, and drivers

involved in crashes. The conversation used English, Filipino and

Ilocano language. The schedule of the interview was pre-set by

asking the informants their particular convenient time for the

activity. There will be a use of audio recorders during the

interview provided that the informant will be informed and he or

she shall consent the said act.

Documentary analysis was also used to answer the most common

vehicles involved in vehicular accidents. It was also used to

supplement the information derived from the informants.

Data Gathering Procedures

The researchers prepared a letter to the Dean of School of

Criminal Justice and Public Safety of University of Baguio to

 Design and Methodology 26

seek permission to proceed with the study. Upon the confirmation

of the Dean, the researchers prepared a letter given to the City

Director of Baguio City Police Office to permit them to gather

data from the BCPO Station 2 on the records of vehicular

accidents in Bokawkan Road, Baguio City and letter of request to

interview its personnel.

Initially, the researchers conducted an inquiry to identify

who will serve as informants for the study based on its purpose.

The researchers after identifying the informants approached such

and informed them of the research agenda. The data gathering

commenced after the informant voluntarily and willfully agreed to

serve as such. Before the data gathering, the researchers made

sure that the informants are fully aware of the ethics of social

research and their rights as informants of the study. An informed

consent form explained to the informant the details of the study.

Data gathering started when the informant provides his or her

consent after a full understanding of his or her role.

In the interview, the informants were asked to describe

their functions, retell their experiences and share their

opinions and realizations associated with vehicular accidents in

Bokawkan Road. Each interview will be taped using an audio

recorder if possible and permitted by the informant.

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Treatment of Data

The researchers analyzed the data using Thematic Analysis

(TA) or the use of themes and codes to draw the source of

discussion that would reveal the significant findings of the

study. Pseudonyms will also be used to conceal the informant’s

identity.

Thematic Analysis involves recording or identifying passages

of text or images that are linked by a common theme or idea

allowing a recorder to index the text into categories and

therefore establish a “framework of thematic ideas about it”

(Gibbs 2007).

One of the advantages of thematic analysis is that it’s

theoretically-flexible. It means it can be used within different

frameworks, to answer entirely different types of the research

question. It suits questions related to people’s experiences, or

people’s views and perceptions such as the emotional and

psychological impact of being physically involved in a vehicular

collision.

Moreover, there is a use of triangulation so that the

perspective of three different informants on the subject matter

was summarized and compared.

Ethical Consideration

The study carefully followed the ethics of research from the

identity of informants to the conduct of interview and treatment,

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analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. There is a

provision of an informed consent form which informs them of their

rights to the social research to all informants of the research.

They were asked to check a checklist which confirmed that they

voluntarily participated in the study, that they understood the

research project, that all data gathered were kept confidential,

that they have the right to ask questions and that they have the

right to withdraw at any time of the study. For the presentation

of data, pseudonyms “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “E” and “F” were used to

conceal the informant’s identity.