Rationale of the Study

Students use public transportation every day for their mobility. Students at the University of Alabama in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama find various challenges without private transportation thus, they walk, use bikes,
and public transportation which can be tiring (Islam et al., 2022). Cerafica and Gabriel (2019) also
conducted a study at the University of the Philippines involving 30 undergraduate students and discovered
that public transportation is tiring, stressful, and time-consuming for students. Students experience stress
due to uncertainties in travel time, safety, driver’s behavior, and many more. Kaushik et al. (2023) also
stated that commuting has a negative effect but is weak to moderate depending on the travel time. Effects
can be caused by stress that can affect one’s overall well-being and mood. During a commute, a
commuter’s mood is lower than other activities and can be found due to its nature of being crowded and
unpredictable (Chatterjee, et al., 2019). Callo et al. (2021) conducted a study on 10 SHS grade 12 students
from Collumban College, Inc. in Olongapo City and uncovered that students may experience dizziness,
and sometimes, public vehicles arrive late, which can affect their schedules This way, students may feel
overwhelmed during their commute, affecting their overall well-being. Some challenges can affect the
students’ experience during their travel duration, including the weather. Ibasco and Fillone (2019)
conducted a study on how weather affects college students in the City of Manila, there is an increase in
travel and waiting time during heavy rainfall and flooding. Delays in public transportation may result in
tardiness. Time is an essential resource for students, but commuting students are limited with time, which
may affect their overall academic performance (Alanzi & Alfraih, 2023).
According to Simpson and Burnett (2017), commuting students are experiencing stress that can affect
their well-being but does not significantly affect their academic performance. In that case, commuting
student are better at utilizing their time accordingly. Studies have shown that students use time
management strategies during the duration of their commute; studying during the commute is an example.
A study at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) stated that students use the travel time to
listen to audiobooks or recordings, read or write notes, etc. (McCool et al., 2017). Due to human’s natural
ability to adapt, students have the power to address their stress and cope with problems while using public
transportation (Cerafica & Gabriel, 2019). Public transportation, since day one, has always provided a
method for us to reach our destination in a faster and cheaper way, but due to problems encountered,
Filipinos had a negative perception of using public transportation (NARBONETA & Teknomo, 2016). In
conclusion, commuting is a chronic stressor, often experienced in an unpleasant condition that has
declining effects on individuals' psychological, social, and physical well-being.
Based on the review of related literature and studies, there are no current studies about grade 11 NCF
STEM students who experience or access to public transportation. The goal is to understand the
experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms of NCF STEM students who utilize public
transportation.

Statement of the Problem

This study will be conducted to understand the experiences of grade 11 STEM student commuters from
Naga College Foundation.
The study will seek to answer the following questions:
1. What are the public transportation experiences of grade 11 NCF STEM students?
2. What are the challenges encountered in accessing public transportation?
3. What strategies do students use to handle the challenges?
Theoretical Construct

This study was solidified by three theories: User Experience Theory (UX) by Don Norman, Stress and
Coping Theory by Lazarus and Folkman, and Pickle Jar Theory by Jeremy Wright.

1. User Experience Theory (UX)

This theory was developed by Don Norman in 1993. This is about a user's experiences with a particular
product, service, platform, and application. It is how a user navigates a product or application, how it is
used, and how relevant it is. It includes accessibility, usability, and enjoyment. This theory emphasizes
user experiences more on how they use and inhabit the said product or services to develop the product or
service suitable for its user. DISCUSS FURTHER
In connection with the study, this theory will help build a foundation for this research. In this case, this
theory will create an opportunity to understand students' experiences accessing public transportation as a
source of mobility.

2. Stress and Coping Theory

The Stress and Coping was developed by Lazarus and Folkman in 1984. This theory discusses a person’s
ability to address challenges and problems that cause stress. In this case, students are known to be stressed
during the duration of the travel time. Being stressed means they must use a coping method. . DISCUSS
FURTHER
This theory will help understand how a student copes with the stress of public transportation daily. The
coping mechanism is part of the research question on how students address their stress and challenges.

3. Pickle Jar Theory

The pickle jar theory proposed by Jeremy Wright in 2002 refers to time as a finite space with limitations.
In pickle jar theory, a pickle jar signifies the usual day for humans, whereas sand, pebbles, rocks, and
water symbolize our daily activities. The pickle jar can be filled with these things, representing something
in one’s life. The sand represents all the small work, such as chatting with your friends and mind
wandering, that can distract or kill one’s productivity. Pebbles represent essential tasks that can be
rescheduled, such as phone calls, emails, and meetings. The rocks are the most essential task in the day
and can result in severe consequences if they fail to be completed; for students, this can be their
performance task and requirement. Water indicates one’s private life, such as spending time with family
and friends. This theory clearly states that an individual's time is limited.
In connection with the study, the Pickle Jar Theory will help further understand how students manage
their limited time and prioritize particular aspects of their lives. Limited time is challenging for students,
so this research will address their situation and understand how they cope with this challenge.
Conceptual Framework

Fig. 1. The Public Transportation Experiences of Grade 11 Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics Students from Naga College Foundation, Inc.

This study was conceptualized to understand the experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms of
grade 11 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students from Naga College
Foundation using public transportation. The flower represents students' overall well-being, while the
petals signify experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms that make the flower or student different
from others. The stem indicates public transportation where students' experiences, challenges, and coping
mechanisms originate.

4. Methodology
In pursuit of understanding the public transportation experiences and the perspectives of students
traveling during this period, this study will use the phenomenological research design of the qualitative
study. Phenomenological research is explained explicitly by Neubauer et al. (2019) as a type of research
that aims to understand a participant’s lived experiences about a specific event or phenomenon. Therefore,
the researcher will use a phenomenological research design since the research goal is to understand the
public transportation experiences of grade 11 NCF STEM students.
The research will be conducted at Naga College Foundation, Inc., where the students who access public
transportation are observed.
In a phenomenological study, Creswell (2013) stated that the number of participants ranges from 3 to 15
is the recommended quantity for phenomenological research. Researchers will use (5) five selected
participants from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand in Grade 11. According
to Obilor (2023), the purposive sampling technique provides a set of criteria that ensures the right
participants are selected to guarantee that accurate data will be gathered. Thus, the researchers will use a
purposive sampling technique. The criteria to be used are the following: (1) the participant is enrolled in
this academic year (2023-2024); (2) the participant resides 30 minutes to 1 hour away from Naga College
Foundation, Inc.; and (3) the participant is using public transportation as the source of transportation daily
from home to school and vice versa.
As the primary research tool, an interview protocol will be used in the structured interview consisting of
(15) fifteen open-ended questions crucial for gathering participants' experiences using public
transportation will be used to collect data from the participants. A Short Guide for Conducting Research
Interviews (2014) states that 30 minutes to 1 hour is the recommended time for an interview. The
researchers will conduct face-to-face interviews with the participants individually, which will last 30
minutes to an hour. The participants will be given a consent form and if the participant is a minor consent
letter will be given to the participant and their parents. The consent letter given to the minor participant is
in English, and the consent form given to their parents is (2) two, in English and Filipino language. The
consent form will contain the overall introduction and purpose of the study. Once the consent form is
approved, the scheduling of the interview will commence.
Once the interview is scheduled, the researcher starts the interview at the scheduled time and date. During
the 30-minute to 1-hour interview, the researcher will ask permission to audio record the whole interview
to provide an accurate report of the contents. Students may use their preferred language to answer the
interview questions.
As for the validation of the interview question and consent form, the (15) fifteen interview question and
consent letter will be consulted to the research teacher before giving the consent letter to participants and
before interviewing to guarantee the accuracy of the data that will be gathered. In the transcription of the
data gathered, the researcher will refer to the audio recording used during the interview. To translate the
transcription of data gathered this will be checked by an English / Filipino language specialist.
Furthermore, in securing the identity of the participant, no personal information will be used during the
presentation of the result. The data gathered will be stored for (2) two years for reviewing purposes.
In analyzing the data, the researcher will use the thematic analysis method. Thematic analysis is a process
that analyzes and identifies the patterns or themes within the gathered qualitative data (Clarke & Braun,
2017). By using thematic analysis, the researcher will identify the key patterns or themes in the data that
will be gathered. The themes will provide a clear understanding and point in research.

To thematically analyze the gathered data the researcher will follow certain steps mentioned by
Mortensen (2020).
Step 1: Familiarizing yourself with the data
Step 2: Assign preliminary codes to your data
Step 3: Search for themes or patterns in your code
Step 4: Review themes
Step 5: Defining and naming themes
Step 6: Producing the report
References

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Distance From School . Olongapo : Columban College, Inc.
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Quezon City: College Of Home Economics, University of The Philippines Diliman.
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and Well-Being: A critical overview of the literature with implication for policy and future
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Nuebauer, B. E., Witkop, C. T., & Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the
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 The Public Transportation Experiences of Grade 11 Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Students
from Naga College Foundation, Inc.

A Thesis Concept Paper

Presented to
The Faculty of Senior Highschool Department
Naga College Foundation Inc.
Naga City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of Research in Daily Life 1

Abiog, Kristen Lian

Balcueva, Christine Jane S.
Mirana, Glynn C.
Perez, Clyde Marco
Robles, Jerome
Valenciano, Klein

11-Gennaios
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand

2024