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CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presented the methods of research used in the study. It determined

the implementation of R.A. No. 10121 by evaluating the level of preparedness of the

BDRRMC of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68, Manila. It handed down the research design,

the research instrument, the research locale, the respondents of the study, the procedure

for gathering data, and statistical treatment.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The researcher used the descriptive method. Descriptive method is used to

describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon being studied. It does not

answer questions about how/when/why the characteristics occurred. Rather it addresses

the “what” question (What are the characteristics of the population or situation being

studied?)

The method is used for frequencies, averages and other statistical calculations.

According to Adanza, E.G., Bermudo, P.J.V., and Rasonabe, M.B. (2009), it is the
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dominant approach used by researchers. For Paler-Calmorin, L. (2010), the purpose is

not only to find truth, but to find a new one. This same truth could take different forms

and Paler-Calmorin explained that the descriptive method is valuable as well as

indispensable to the discovery of truth and all its nuances.

Descriptive method was the most useful method for this study, considering that

the researchers shall focus on the present situation (what is) regarding the topic of

disaster preparedness as carried out within the context of disaster risk reduction and

management.

Since the researchers are concerned with the level of preparedness of the

BDRRMC, the researchers shall use the descriptive-survey method.

The descriptive survey method is used to gather relatively limited data from

relatively large number of cases. As in this study, the population of the BDRRMC

constitute the aforementioned set of data. The purpose is to gather information about the

prevailing conditions of the level of preparedness of the BDRRMC of Barangay 649 and

even about the variables which may have significant relation to this study.
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The descriptive survey method, as distinguished from the descriptive normative

survey method, uses a questionnaire or other instruments prepared by the researcher to

generate data.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The questionnaire is the main research instrument used for gathering the data

from the set of respondents. A three-part questionnaire shall be used. The first part shall

query about their socio-demographic profile: age, civil status, highest educational

attainment, number of years as resident of the concerned barangay and the number of

disaster-related training/seminar attended. The second part pertains to the hazards,

vulnerabilities and capacities self-assessment of the respondents, or as the researchers

would like to refer to as the “risk profile” of the respondents. It must be able to produce

the self-assessed risk level based on such “risk profile” and it must be intended to be

integrated as part of the general profile of the respondents for evaluation of its own

significance to the study. The third part shall ask for the level of preparedness of the

BDRRMC population in terms of: Community Risk Assessment, Contingency Planning,

Communication System and Capacity-Building.

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RESEARCH LOCALE

The research shall be conducted on-site of Barangay 649, Zone 68, Manila,

located at the BASECO Compound, South Harbor, Port Area, Manila. Its largest portion

lies within the eastern part of Manila Bay, beside the Pasig River, bordering the northeast

coast of the river and straddling the northern and southern boundaries of Manila.

RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

There shall be one (1) set of respondents: the population of the BDRRMC of

Barangay 649, Manila.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

First, the researchers constructed a questionnaire based on their own evaluation

of other existing preparedness-related questionnaires as well as their own perceptions of

the subject at hand. Next, they consulted experts for valuable insights and suggestions.

Upon such recommendation the instrument shall be validated, and upon approval by the

thesis adviser, it shall be initially rendered on a test of twenty (20) persons (test run in
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Barangay No. 664-A, Zone 71, Manila). Once revised, validated, checked and approved

by the adviser, then the researchers shall seek the approval of the Dean of the College of

Public Administration to conduct a descriptive-survey research about the level of

preparedness of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68, Manila.

STATISTICAL TREATMENT OF DATA

The statistical tools utilized in the study were frequency, percentage, general

weighted mean, correlation of coefficient, and linear regression.

A talligram was first constructed by the group, which they called “the four

corners.” It is named so since the talligram attempted to quantify the variables, whether

they are interval, nominal, ordinal or ratio.

Example of the self-constructed talligram is provided herein:

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SELF-CONSTRUCTED TALLIGRAM FOR AGE AND LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS

IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT

Level of Preparedness in terms of Community Risk Assessment

Very Fairly Very
Age Efficient Efficient Efficient Inefficient Inefficient Total
GWM (5) (4) (3) (2) (1) Frequency

09-17 3.00 1 1

18-26 4.00 2 2 4

27-35 3.67 2 4 6

36-44 3.27 3 1 9 1 1 15

45-53 3.29 2 5 7

54-62 2.89 3 3 2 1 9

Total
7 6 24 3 2 42
Frequency
General
Weighted 3.31
Mean

Legend:
GWM – General Weighted Mean

Frequency was used to determine the distribution of respondents in terms of

normality and measures of tendency.

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Percentage was used in order to determine the ratio of the profile of the

respondents as in age, civil status, highest educational attainment, residency, number of

training/seminar attended, etc.

General weighted mean was utilized to find out the average responses of the

respondents and their present level of preparedness. The formula for general weighted

mean (GWM) is illustrated here:

DUMMY TABLE

LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY RISK

ASSESSMENT GENERAL
AGE VERY FAIRLY VERY WEIGHTED
EFFICIENT INEFFICIENT
EFFICIENT EFFICIENT INEFFICIENT MEAN
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
1 3.00
09-17
(1x3 = 3) (3/1 = 3)

2 2 4.00
18-26
(2x5 = 10) (2x3 = 6) (16/4 = 4)
3.67
2 4
27-35 (22/6 =
(2 X 5 = 10) (4 X 3 = 12)
3.67)
3.27
3 1 9 1 1
36-44 (49/15 =
(3x5 = 15) (1x4 = 4) (9x3 = 27) (1x2 = 2) (1x1 = 1)
3.27)
3.29
2 5
45-53 (23/7 =
(2x4 = 8) (5x3 = 15)
3.29)
2.89
3 3 2 1
54-62 (26/9 =
(3x4 = 12) (3x3 = 9) (2x2 = 4) (1x1 = 1)
2.89)
7 6 24 3 2 3.31
TOTAL (139/42 =
(7x5 = 35) (6x4 = 24) (24x3 = 72) (3x2 = 6) (2x1 = 2)
3.31)
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In the computation of self-assessed risk based on hazards, vulnerabilities and

capacities, the researchers gave weight to the indicators, as follows:

1. Hazards (Multiple Response): one response out of five, 0.20; two responses out

of five, 0.40; three responses out of five, 0.60, and so on and so forth.

2. Vulnerabilities (Two Indicators are Multiple Choice and Two Indicators are

Multiple Responses): House Type and Number of Families Staying in the House

are Multiple Choices and given scores, e.g. Concrete is 1.25 while Wooden is

3.75, and so on and so forth; while for One Family Staying in the House is 1.25,

and 6-More Families is a maximum of 5; for Unfortunate Events and Basic

Service Affected, scoring for multiple responses is applied, e.g., one choice out

of five is 0.20, two choices equals 0.40, and so on and so forth.

3. Capacities (Two Multiple Choices and One Multiple Response): the same

principle as mentioned in vulnerabilities is applied to capacities.

The computation of self-assessed risk will be based on the previous model

presented in the review of literature and related studies, that is:

RISK = HAZARDS x VULNERABILITIES

CAPACITIES
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Self-assessed risk level, therefore, will be a probability variable wherein all

scores will range from the theoretical 0.00 to 1.00, since this data will deal with the

probability of occurrence of a hazard exposing the elements at risk at a certain period of

time and in a specific location. This spatial computation of disaster risk adheres to the

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction “scale of impact” principle, which

states that “a disaster’s severity depends on how much impact a hazard has on society

and the environment. The scale of the impact in turn depends on the choices the

researchers make for the lives and for the environment. These choices relate to xxx

where and how the researchers build the homes, what kind of government the

researchers have, how the financial system works… Each decision and action makes us

more vulnerable – or more resilient to them.”

In order to determine the level of preparedness of the BDRRMC, a rating scale

for efficiency has been devised, as follows:

Rating Scale Score (Weighted Mean) Verbal Interpretation

5 4.21-5.00 Very Efficient
4 3.41-4.20 Efficient
3 2.61-3.40 Fairly Efficient
2 1.81-2.60 Inefficient
1 1.00-1.80 Very Inefficient
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In order to determine the significant relations of the level of preparedness and

profile of the BDRRMC, correlation tests, and when necessary, the linear regression

equation would be utilized.

The Pearson product moment coefficient correlation formula is, as follows:

The correlation table used is as follows:

Obtained r Verbal Interpretation

±1.00 Perfect positive/negative correlation
±0.876 to ±0.99 Very high positive/negative correlation
±0.625 to ±0.875 High positive/negative correlation
±0.375 to 0.624 Moderately small positive/negative correlation
±0.125 to 0.374 Very small positive/negative correlation

The four Cs, Community Risk Assessment, Contingency Planning,

Communication System, and Capacity-Building, consist of the projects and activities

provided for by existing rules and regulations for disaster preparedness in the local level.

Thus, the weighted means of individual items as well as the general weighted means of
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the four distinguished categories are taken into the formulation of the level of

preparedness of the BDRRMC.

The t-test for correlation formula used is: t = r(SQUARE ROOT of n-2/1-r2)

The linear regression equation to be used is: y = a + bx.

On page 527 of the book “Elementary Statistics: A Step by Step Approach”

(Allan G. Bluman, McGraw-Hill International Edition, 2008), it is stated that researchers

must understand the nature of the linear relationship between the independent variable x

and the dependent variable y. When a hypothesis test indicates that a significant linear

relationship exists between the variables, researchers must consider the possibilities

outlined next:

1. There is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the variables.

2. There is a reverse cause-and-effect relationship between the variables.

3. The relationship between the variables must be caused by a third variable.

4. There may be a complexity of interrelationships among variables.

5. The relationship may be coincidental.

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Assumptions for valid predictions in regression:

1. For any specific value of the independent variable x, the value of the dependent

variable y must be normally distributed about the regression line.

2. The standard deviation of each of the dependent variables must be the same for

each value of the independent variable.

As an additional information, the source book explained, on the treatment of

data, the researchers should take caution in dealing with the so-called outliers. An outlier

is a point that seems out of place when compared with the other points. When this

happens, the points are called influential points or influential observations.

The researchers should use their judgment on how to handle these influential

points. Again the researchers return to the basic approach they will take in the course of

this study: common sense.

While either trimming the mean or excluding an outlier may seem simplistic

choices, such decisions must be still be validated and justified so that bias and discretion

would not blur the results or findings of the study.

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As stated before, the researchers shall use the Pearson product moment

correlation coefficient equation, the t-test for correlations, and, in cases of significance,

the linear regression equations for limited but hopefully plausible predictions.