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CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter talks about on how the researchers

gathered and analyzed the data in determining the students’

competence in mathematics, and the readiness of the students

to enter college university and provides the methodology

used in the study. It presents the research design, the

research design, respondents of the study, instrument of the

study, validity and reliability, statistical treatment and

ethical considerations.

Research Design

This is a descriptive quantitative research which makes

use of descriptive method and correlational design to come

up with the desired information. Descriptive research 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. On the other hand, Harland

(n.d) stated that experimental research is a study that

strictly adheres to a scientific research design. It

includes a hypothesis, a variable that can be manipulated by

the researcher, and variables that can be measured,

calculated and compared. Most importantly, experimental

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research is completed in a controlled environment. The

researcher collects data and the results will either support

or reject the hypothesis. These are appropriate methods to

use in casting light on the description and analysis of the

students’ mathematical competence, the learning competency

of mathematics that the students are more inclined to do,

and; the effectiveness of competency level in their college

readiness.

The Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study were the Grade 12

students from the STEM strand in CSNHS, A/Y 2019-2020. There

will be one hundred (100) Grade 12 STEM student dividing it

according to gender will resulting to 50 females and 50

males respondents s sample that the researchers will focus

on. The researchers will use the non-probability purposive

sampling wherein the students will be identified as

respondents by the researchers according to the criteria or

standard of the study.

Instrument of the Study

The researchers will use a questionnaire which will

know the demographic profile of the respondents and also

interview questions that was made by the researchers. Before

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conducting the interview, the researchers formally give the

consent letter to the respondents. The instruments used in

this study were the survey questionnaire which was made by

the researchers.

Validity and Reliability

The validity of one’s study is one of the main

concerns in research because any research can be affected by

different kinds of factors which, while extraneous to the

concerns of the research, can invalidate the findings. The

validity of a study depends on the respondents and is

affected by flaws in the study itself as there are variables

that are beyond the control of the researchers. The unclear

thoughts or opinions of the respondents can void the

validity of a research, however they can be asked to clarify

their answers again to test the validity of their responses.

This will ensure that the data collected is not being

misinterpreted and misunderstood. The reliability of this

study depends on the instrument used by the researchers

which is survey questionnaire. A questionnaire is a

predefined set of questions assembled in a pre-determined

order. It is handy or advisable to use as an instrument of a

study when the researcher is trying to gather information

from a great number of people like this study. Thus, survey

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questionnaire is a reliable instrument to obtain the correct

and objective of this study.

Statistical Treatment of Data

The researchers used four (4) statistical tools namely:

Percentage, T-Test, Pearson product moment correlation, and

Weighted Mean.

To compute for the samples of the study, the sample

formula will be used.

Formula:

N
n= 2
1+ N e

Where:

n=¿ number of sample

N = number of population

e = margin of error

The percentage was used to analyse the students’

mathematical competence and college readiness. If the

student has reached the 60% of each criterion, it means they

are competent or ready otherwise not competent or not ready.

Formula:
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x
%= (100)
y

Where:

% = percentage

x = score

y = total number of items per criterion

Also, percentage was used to determine the the learning

competency of mathematics that the students are more

inclined to solve.

Formula:

F
% = (100)
N

Where:

% = percentage

F = frequency

N = total number of respondents

The T-test was used in order to compare the results

between the students’ mathematical competence and college

readiness which measured the relationship between the

students’ competency in mathematics and college readiness in

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improving the writing skills of the students. The T-test to

be used is the two-sample assuming unequal variances.

The Pearson product moment correlation will be used in

order to determine whether the null hypothesis will be

accepted or rejected.

Formula:

r = n ( Σxy )−( Σx ) ( Σy )
√¿ ¿ ¿

Where:

x = scores in variable 1 (mathematical competence)

y = scores in variable 2 (college readiness)

n = number of respondent

Σxy = summation of the product of x and y

Σx = summation of x

Σy = summation of y

Σ x = square of the summation of x

2

Σ y = square of the summation of y

2
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The weighted mean will be used in order to determine

the perception of students about the Mathematical

competencies and college readiness.

Σfx
Formula: µ=
N

Where:

µ = weighted mean

Σfx = summation of x

N = number of respondents

Ethical Consideration

The researchers stated the information in this study

honestly, objectively, and with integrity. Due to the

confidentiality of the information that will be provided by

the respondents, the researchers will present a consent

letter to the respondents explaining that there should be no

leakage data and the data must be only used to the study.

Any information that will be given by the respondents will

stay confidential and private. In order to avoid plagiarism

and intellectual infringement, the researchers carefully

cited sources to every authors of the gathered related

literatures and studies that has help this study to be

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completed. The researchers gives credits to the authors

respectively.

NOTES

Harland, D. J. (n.d). An introduction to experimental

research. Retrieved from

https://cemast.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/hsrs/types_of_res

earch.pdf (August 31, 2019)

Ortiz, D. C. et al. (2018). Genre-based instruction and

students’ writing competence. Unpublished Undergraduate

Thesis, Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and

Technology, Naga City