CHAPTER III: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

A. Introduction

This chapter describes and discusses how the researchers will gather the necessary data and
information that will be use in the entire study.
It describes the design of the study, research method and who will be the respondents and focus
of the research. This chapter also presents the description of the sampling procedure, instrument
used, data gathering procedure and data analysis.

B. Research design

Qualitative designs are less strictly defined, this approach is about gaining a rich, detailed
understanding of a specific context or phenomenon, exploring under-researched problems and
generate new ideas, enabling us to be creative and flexible in designing our research. This study
will use qualitative approach which influences narrative research design, providing an
opportunity for the researchers to consider the benefits and limitations of various approaches
available throughout the study. There are two types of research approaches available - deductive
and inductive. This study uses inductive research approach as it aims to formulate hypothesis and
develop general theory around how COVID-19 Pandemic alters the people’s mental state. In this
form of inquiry the study is focusing on stories about an individual’s lives. This study approach
a small number of participants and applies narratives to interpret an individual’s story, as
opposed to a community, thereby summarizing real life experiences across the society in the time
of COVID-19 Pandemic.

C. Population and sample

This study belongs to qualitative research, the population is possibly too large and the data may
not be reliable. Even with a narrowly defined population, it’s rarely possible to collect data from
every individual but instead we collect data from a sample. The study is conducted in the local
barangay of San Isidro, Castilla, Sorsogon for the conveniences of the researchers in performing
the study. The citizens will be the entire population of participants but the secondary and college
students will serve as sample. The researchers intend to study this desired sample size in order to
avoid statistical power. There are two main sampling approaches: probability sampling and non-
probability sampling. This study uses convenience sampling also called as accidental or
incidental sampling, which belongs to non-probability sampling. The sampling method used
affects how confidently we can generalize our results to the population as a whole. In
considering the potential biases the researchers make an effort to gather a sample that’s as
representative as possible of the population. The participants of this study is the people who’s
prone to mental issues, usually students at this time of COVID-19 Pandemic. But, due to the
study’s constraints, the students who are present at the time of weekends and at their leisure time
will be chosen as rconclusions

D. Research instrument
There are two main survey methods to choose from: questionnaires and interviews. In qualitative
research the commonly used is interviews, also called as in-depth interviews, which is the best
for the researchers to use in data collection. This method relies on asking questions in order to
collect data. Interviews involve two or more people, one of whom is the interviewer asking the
questions and the interviewee whom going to answer. Allowing the researchers to collect data
about real life experiences, and stories by asking people directly. The interview conducted in this
study is through online conversation, this is for the safety of both participants and researchers.
The interview contains an open-ended questions so that in-depth informations will be collected.
Throughout the data collection different ideas can be explored in-depth even with a smaller
group of participants, where each participants can use their own words to express their stories.
Therefore, the participants can provide with more information rather than a simple yes or no
answers.

E. Data Collection Procedure

Interviews allows this study to gain first-hand knowledge and original insights into the research
problem. In this study the researchers adapted in existing data collection methods designed to
make consistent and accurate findings, the researchers thoroughly researched and carefully
designed the research instrument to ensure its reliability and validity. The researchers conducted
interview in data collection which uses an open-ended questions, because behaviour - based
questions require the applicant to hypothesize what they would do when presented with a
realistic workplace scenario. What is great about open-ended questions is that they can be run
just as effectively in a live setting as they can be included as part of a self-paced survey.
Choosing this method of survey will surely help the researchers to get a nice background
informations on why participants responses the way they do and how they arrive to this
responses. Open-ended questions do not provide participants with a predetermined set of answer
choices, instead allowing the participants to provide responses in their own words. This type of
framework showcases the participant’s judgment and decision-making skills. Particularly helpful
in revealing the effects, challenges and so forth that are unknown or unidentified problem or
concerns about the COVID-19 Pandemic. Allowing the participants to answer by their own
words based in life stories where they are the only one who can evaluate the experiences.
Typically, open-ended questions begins with the following words: how, and what.
As part of ethical considerations, the researchers make sure that there is a consent from the
students before they become a part of this study. And, making sure that we are following other
ethics of research, by mean of not fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting the data collected
throughout the interview. We keep our promises and agreements; show our sincerity ; and strive
for consistency of thought and actions. The researchers are accountable of time to avoid the
boredom of participants and minimize harms and risks and maximize benefits; respecting the
participant’s dignity, privacy, and autonomy. The questions are built for the participants so they
can express their personal experiences and showcase the altering effect of COVID-19 Pandemic
to people’s mental state.Throughout the interview we ask each one of them what are the
experiences after the declaration of global pandemic due to rise of COVID-19. After the
interview, the researcher will transcribe, interpret and analyze all the data.
Here are the questions used in the interview:
1. Can you tell me? What are the challenges brought by extensive lockdowns and
community quarantine to your daily life during COVID-19 Pandemic?
 2. What are your initial reactions and thoughts about the news of experimental development
of COVID-19 vaccine?
3. How do you feel when seeing other people being heavily affected by the COVID-19
Pandemic?
4. What are your satisfactions about government performance when the outbreak of
coronavirus disease strikes the Philippines?
5. What can you say regarding with the misinformation amidst COVID-19 Pandemic?
6. How does the government advocacy helped you to preserve your mental health?
7. How do you view this world if the people will continue being carefree about the
pandemic just because of little improvements?
8. What can you say about the stress level right now compared before where there’s no
COVID-19 Pandemic?

F. Data Analysis Procedure

There are different types of data analysis in qualitative research but what suits well in this
studying is narrative analysis, it is a form of qualitative research in which the researcher focuses
on a topic and analyzes the data collected from case studies, surveys, observations or other
similar methods. The researchers write their findings, then review and analyze them. It helps the
researchers straightforwardly interpret the data so that researchers don't leave anything out that
could help them derive insights, significance and relevance of informations in determine whether
the researchers can use the informations in the study. After the data collection through interview,
the analysis starts. Narrative analysis aims to explore whether how something is being said and
how it is important. Analyzing the ways people talk about their personal struggles amidst
COVID-19 Pandemic, which can provide powerful insights into the researcher's perspectives in
interpreting how the data showcase the desired results regarding to altering effects of COVID-19
Pandemic to people’s mental state. In other words, narrative analysis is about paying attention to
the stories that people tell – and more importantly, the way they tell them.
Of course, the narrative approach has its weaknesses, just like all analysis methods. Sample sizes
are generally quite small due to the time-consuming process of capturing narratives. Because of
this, along with the multitude of social and lifestyle factors which can influence a subject,
narrative analysis can be quite difficult to reproduce in subsequent research. This means that it’s
difficult to test the findings of some of this research.Similarly, researcher can have a strong
influence on the results here, high possibility of potential biases can bring into researcher’s
analysis when using this method. Nevertheless, narrative analysis is still a very useful qualitative
method just keep these limitations in mind and be careful not to draw broad conclusions.

G. Notes

What is narrative research? Retrieved from https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/book/what-

is-narrative-research/ch1-what-is-narrative-research-starting-out
Delve, Ho, L., & Limpaecher, A. (2020b, September 15). What is Narrative Analysis? Essential
Guide to Coding Qualitative Data. Retrieved from
https://delvetool.com/blog/narrativeanalysis.

Using Narrative Evidence to Convey Health Information on Social Media: The Case of COVID-
19. Retrieved from
https://www.jmir.org/2021/3/e24948/