CHAPTER 3

Research Methodology

This chapter covers the overall method of the research, including:

research design, population and sampling, and data gathering procedure that will
be used by the researchers in completing the study.

Research Design and Methods

In order to see the general picture of the impact, reasons, and possible
solutions pertaining to Filipinos' Awareness and Reactions on Key Issues Posted
on Facebook and Twitter, the combination of qualitative and descriptive methods
are utilized in this research.

As a descriptive study, this research gathers credible, sensible and

reliable information without changing the environment, and will only include what
already exists, therefore, nothing is manipulated. It aims to describe the situation
and the characteristics in a specific and clear way, seeking to find the answers to
some of the questions, for better understanding.

On the other hand, this research as a qualitative study, accumulates and

examines non-numerical data to have deeper understanding about the
circumstances, opinions, judgements and concepts about the topic that the
researchers conduct. Considering that, this research will be given more
importance and in-depth meanings and definitions.

In having enough data, the researchers collected at least 50 screenshots

that are posted on Facebook and Twitter that serve as the sufficient basis in
proving the point of the research. We will then use it to evaluate the reasons as
to why some Filipinos post things on Facebook and Twitter despite not doing a
"fact check" nor make an effort to know the background of the topic or issue
before publicly posting.
 By performing all the steps and strategies, this research desires to give
respondents an explanation and proper knowledge in relevance to the topic
"Filipinos' Awareness and Reactions on Key Issues Posted on Facebook and
Twitter", to answer some of the most common asked questions. Other than that,
the researchers will also provide possible ways to lessen the Filipinos’ ignorance
on key issues.

Population and Respondents

In population, every individual who uses Facebook and Twitter has an

equal chance of being selected as a subject for our research which will be the
results of our study to be generalized. This method guarantees that the selection
process is completely randomized and without bias. Our sampling will conduct
an observation which will observe key issues regarding people’s behavior and
interaction on social media to collect screenshots, comments, shared posts to
analyze the purpose of the study and then suggest how data can be collected.
The advantage of using population sampling is the accuracy of the statistical
methods after the experiment. It can also be used to estimate the population
parameters since it is representative of the entire population. It is also a reliable
method to eliminate sampling bias.

Research Locale

This research will be conducted by way of the internet, using educational

apps and sites such as Microsoft word, Google drive, Google, and mainly,
Google meet. Google meet has been chosen or selected by us researchers,
knowing the efficiency and considering the safety for each and every one of us
since we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Some of the data that will be gathered by the researchers will come from
the related studies and literature that were also conducted by other researchers.
On top of that, we will also get the evidence or proofs to support the topic of our
study using Facebook and Twitter by taking screenshots that can serve as an
example, rather than providing questionnaires and surveys since the study
doesn’t need any respondents. To discuss the whole study, the researchers will
use Google Meet whenever we need to talk about a particular concern that we
think might help in finishing each chapter of the study. The meeting will be held
weekly, and will last at least 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the concern.

Research Instrument

Since the study doesn’t need any questionnaires and surveys because
respondents are not relevant to the topic, the researchers will focus on the
observations checklist. The observations checklist will be the basis of the
researchers on what to look for, or what to observe while analyzing the
screenshots that are provided. The researchers will include 10 key issues in the
observation checklist to have just enough information in completing the study. In
formulating the observation checklist, the researchers will have a meeting
virtually using the Google Meet, since we are in the grip of a pandemic.

After that, the researchers will talk about the goals that are needed to be
achieved in completing the list, do individual research and make sure that the
references are accurate/can be trusted, and identify what’s important and what’s
not, for us to be able to put forth ideas that are relevant. Then, the researchers
will collect the ideas given by all of the members and choose the best ones to
include on the final paper that are useful, important and can serve as a reliable
basis in observing. The list will be based on the expected performance or
behavior of the Filipinos in Facebook and Twitter. So that in the end, the study
will provide a deeper explanation with in-depth observations.

After collecting all of the data, the researchers will analyze the results by
comprehending the components and how they interact, concentrating on the
relationship between the observation and the explicit standard/indicator it
discussed in a meeting using the Google Meet. The researchers will do this
together to have all of the opinions that some of the members can give, while
some take notes on what is important. After all that, the researchers will do a final
paper with the results included. It will then be used to identify the problems and
can also serve as an explanation to some of the questions that the readers might
ask.

Data Gathering Procedure

At first, the researchers were given a topic and title by the professor that
will be used for the whole study. Then, the researchers had spent a significant
amount of time, effort, and coordination collecting screenshots in order to
construct or establish the study's intent. The research is being carried out in
order to provide results that will be the guide in raising awareness and
understanding of the situation or behavior under the study.

Since we are in the midst of a pandemic, the research was performed online
in order to develop and interpret the findings of the study. The researchers used
the internet to find such an important study. They were then observed in order to
promote sustainable development by improving knowledge through constructing
theoretical concepts, insights, and ideas.

Data Analysis

As a descriptive study, this study collects credible, sensible, and

trustworthy information without altering the environment and would only use what
is already available; therefore, nothing is manipulated. It attempts to explain the
situation and the features in a specific and understandable manner, while also
attempting to find responses to some of the questions for improved
comprehension. As a qualitative study, this research collects and analyses non-
numerical data in order to get a better understanding of the contexts, views,
judgments, and concepts regarding the subject that the researchers investigate.
As a result, this report will be lent more weight and in-depth meanings and
concepts.

Ethical Considerations

In our research ethical considerations are very important for the protection
of the people we observe through the application of appropriate ethical principles.
In this study, ethical considerations have a particular resonance due to the in-
depth nature of the study process. The aim of this paper is to present the results
of “IGNORANT BUT CONFIDENT”: FILIPINOS’ AWARENESS AND
REACTIONS ON KEY ISSUES POSTED ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Through the observations checklist that will be the basis of the researchers on
what to look for, or what to observe while analyzing the screenshots that are
provided. This paper reflects on the strategies that can be adopted by a
qualitative researcher to ensure that the people we observed on facebook and
twitter identity is protected while conducting the data. The consideration of these
ethical issues is crucial throughout all stages of our corpus study to keep the
balance between the potential risks of research and the likely benefits of the
research.

This following are considered:

Confidentiality - It pertains to protecting the information of the people we

observed on facebook and twitter personally identifiable data. It will ensure that
the people we observe are protected in terms of their identity, personal
information, reactions, etc. will not be disclosed to anyone outside of the
research team unless otherwise agreed upon.
Informed Consent - The participation of the researcher’s in signing the letter for
the principal is voluntary and they are free to withdraw at any time, without giving
a reason and without cost. And also they voluntarily agree to take part in this
study.