RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This section outlines the specific methods, techniques, and tools that the

researchers employed to collect and analyze data, as well as the rationale behind these

choices. It also provides a clear and comprehensive account of how the study is

conducted, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in scientific research.

Research Design

The research design of this quantitative-qualitative study is an explanatory parallel

design. The explanatory parallel design is a mixed-method research design that combines

both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. The design is

suitable for investigating a phenomenon with multiple causation factors and understanding

the interplay of these factors in the phenomenon. Hence, this study is definitive for this

sort of research design.

Research Setting

The research setting for this mixed-method approach study is Maramag, Bukidnon,

a municipality in Bukidnon, Philippines. Maramag is a rural area with a population of

approximately 80,000, according to the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority data and it is

also one of the 20 municipalities in the province of Bukidnon reported to have a lot of

adolescent-related issues such as the engagement of adolescents to sexual activity which

then provides a route to teenage pregnancy and other risks for adolescents, especially in

those communities who have low-income households and high rate of dropouts.

Participants of the Study

The participants in this study are adolescents between the age range of 15 to 19

who have engaged in premarital sexual intercourse, a total of sixty (60) participants based
on the sampling procedure used. The study also includes adolescents who have not

engaged in sexual intercourse but have expressed an interest in doing so or have

engaged in other sexual behaviors, such as kissing or touching. The sample population

will be drawn from a variety of settings, such as schools, communities, and local areas

around Maramag, Bukidnon. To illustrate the participants of the study more clearly, a table

below is constructed:

Age Strata or Groups of Number of Participants

Adolescents
15 years old  High School Five (5) adolescent
 Out-of-School participants in each
stratum or group of
adolescents
16 years old  High School Five (5) adolescent
 Out-of-School participants in each
stratum or group of
adolescents
17 years old  High School Five (5) adolescent
 Out-of-School participants in each
stratum or group of
adolescents
18 years old  High School Five (5) adolescent
 College participants in each
 Out-of-School stratum or group of
adolescents
19 years old  High School Five (5) adolescent
 College participants in each
 Out-of-School stratum or group of
adolescents

Sampling Procedure

For this study, the researchers will use a stratified random sampling technique for

selecting their participants. First, the researchers will identify the strata or groups of

adolescents in Maramag, Bukidnon that are at risk of engaging in premarital sexual

intercourse. These may include adolescents who are in high school or college, those who

are not currently enrolled in school, and those who come from low-income households.

Next, the researchers will randomly select participants from each stratum to ensure that
their sample is representative of the population. The sample size will be determined using

a formula for determining sample size in quantitative research. The researchers will

ensure that the sample size is adequate to allow for reliable statistical analysis and

meaningful interpretation of the results. To select their participants, the researchers will

first obtain a list of students from the school officials, and they will contact them to obtain

informed consent to participate in the study. For those who are not currently enrolled in

school, the researchers will collaborate with the community leaders or local government

units to access the list of potential participants.

Research Instruments

This study will make use of a survey questionnaire adopted from the study of

Faisal, K., et. al., (2022) entitled “What Leads to Premarital Sex among Young Males in

Pakistan”. This survey questionnaire includes ten (10) themes as follows: (1) Early

introduction to sex, (2) Sex related factors, (3) Psychological needs, (4) Sex for social

gains, (5) Personal norms towards premarital sex, and (6) Availability of opportunity for

sex., sub-themes, and codes that are answerable by Agree or Disagree. This will

determine the causes that provoke adolescents’ engagement in premarital sexual

intercourse. This study will also employ the use of an interview schedule that is formulated

by the researchers themselves to identify the effects of engaging in premarital sexual

intercourse on adolescents’ lives incorporating five (5) interview questions relative to the

focus of the study.

Scoring Procedure

This section describes the specific methods used to score the data, which may

vary depending on the data collected, the research questions being asked, and the

statistical methods used for analysis. In this study, the scoring procedure is tabled below.
 Legend Description Interpretation

1.00 – 1.50 Disagree Not a cause

1.51 – 2.00 Agree A cause

Validity and Reliability of the Instruments

For quantitative analysis, this study will utilize a survey questionnaire adopted from

the study of Faisal, K., et. al., (2022) entitled “What Leads to Premarital Sex among

Young Males in Pakistan”. The aforementioned study has a 0.85 Cronbach alpha, which

can be considered valid and reliable for this study to be conducted. On the other hand,

this study will also employ an interview schedule for qualitative analysis to be scrutinized

by professional researchers or experts in research namely Ms. Ingrid Vianica L. Mendez,

Mrs. Jessel V. Tagadiad, and Mr. Jake H. Destacamento, for a more reliable result and

reference.

Data Gathering Procedure

Upon the conduct of this study, a data-gathering procedure is applied. First, the

researchers will determine the population of interest and select a suitable sampling frame.

Second, the researchers will select a sampling technique, which is stratified sampling, to

identify potential participants. Third, the researchers will develop an informed consent

form that outlines the purpose of the study, the risks and benefits of participation, and the

confidentiality measures that will be taken to protect participants' privacy. Fourth, the

researchers will administer the research instruments to the selected participants in person.

They will also provide participants with clear instructions on how to complete the

instruments used and ensure that the survey questionnaire and interview schedule (which

will be done through a focus group discussion) are administered in a standardized

manner. Fifth, once the data has been collected, the researchers will review it for

completeness and accuracy, and remove any incomplete surveys or responses that do

not meet the inclusion criteria such as the irrelevance of answers to the questions which

may not help the study’s investigation. And last, the researchers will conduct statistical

analyses to identify the factors that are associated with adolescents' engagement in

premarital sexual activity. This may involve using statistical techniques.

Statistical Techniques

In this study, the researchers will be utilizing statistical techniques to analyze both

quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative data, the researchers will conduct a

descriptive analysis to explore the frequency and distribution of variables related to

adolescents' engagement in premarital sexual intercourse. Meanwhile, for qualitative data,

they will utilize thematic analysis to identify and analyze the recurring themes and patterns

in the narratives of their participants. Through these techniques, the researchers aim to

gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes that contribute to adolescents'

engagement in premarital sexual intercourse.