Chapter III
Methodology
A method is a technique
which the researcher uses to
gather and generate data
about the subjects of their
study.
In research, methods might include
surveys, experiments, case studies,
interviews, or observations—all of
which are specific strategies
employed to gather information or
test hypotheses.
A methodology is the section of the research
paper which explains why the researcher chose to
use particular methods.
Methodology is a study or analysis of the methods
themselves, often explaining the reasoning behind
selecting particular methods, their theoretical
foundations, and how they align with the goals of
the study or discipline.
Example in research:
"The methodology of the study was
qualitative, employing thematic
analysis of interview data."
A research design is a plan which
structures a study to ensure that the
data collected and generated will
contain the information needed to
answer the initial inquiry as fully and
clearly as possible.
It outlines how to collect, measure, and
analyze data in a systematic and
structured way, ensuring the study is
scientifically valid, reliable, and ethically
sound.
Examples: Action, Causal, Descriptive,
Experimental, Cohort
Sampling in
Research
Sampling is a process through which a researcher
selects a portion or segment from the population
at the center of the researcher’s study.
The population is a group of persons or objects
that possess some common characteristics that
are of interest to the researcher, and about which
the researcher seeks to learn more.
There are two groups of population: the target
population and the accessible population.
Target population is composed of the entire
group of people or objects to which the
researcher wishes to generalize the findings of the
study, while the
Accessible Population is a portion of the
population to which the researcher has
reasonable access.
For example, in a study about the common
difficulties encountered by senior high school
students in their first semester of school year
2016-2017, the target population may be all
senior high school students in Metro Manila.
However, the researcher may have access to the
students
of a specific school.
The individual participants in the study are often
referred to as subjects or respondents.
The subjects are individuals or entities which
serve as the focus of the study.
Respondents are individuals or groups of people
who actively serve as sources of information
during data collection.
Slovin’s Formula
•
Types of
Probability
Sampling
a.
Examples:
Fishbowl method
Roulette
b.
Example:
If a population has 1,000 individuals and you need a
sample size of 100, you would select every 10th
individual (1,000 / 100 = 10)
starting from a randomly chosen point.
c. Cluster Sampling
In cluster sampling, the population is divided into
groups (clusters), often based on natural groupings
like geographic location, institutions, or organizations.
Example:
In a study of customer satisfaction at multiple stores
across a region, you could randomly select a few stores
(clusters) and then survey all customers at those stores.
Alternatively, you could randomly sample customers
within the selected stores.
d.
Stratified Sampling:
A researcher will study the common
effects of smoking on high school
students. The researcher decides to
select equal numbers of students
from the freshman, sophomore,
Stratified Sampling:
Example: In a survey of university students, you might
divide the population by year of study (freshmen,
sophomores, juniors, seniors) and then randomly select
a sample from each year group, ensuring that each
group is proportionately represented.
Cluster Sampling:
VS
Stratified Sampling:
Stratified Sampling is best used when you want to ensure
that specific subgroups within the population are well-
represented and you have the resources to sample each
subgroup directly.
Cluster Sampling is useful when dealing with large
populations that are geographically spread out or when it's
difficult to list or access every individual in the population. It’s
more efficient in these cases, but it may be less precise due to
the clustering effect.
Types of
Non-Probability
Sampling
Convenience Sampling:
Imagine a researcher who is studying the impact of
smartphone usage on sleep patterns among young adults. If
they use convenience sampling, they might survey students at
a local university, as the researcher has easy access to this
group, either by approaching them in person or sending out
an online survey to a class they teach. However, this group
may not represent the broader population of young adults,
especially if the university students tend to have different
Purposive Sampling:
Suppose you are studying the experiences of cancer survivors
who have undergone a specific type of treatment. Rather
than selecting a random group of cancer survivors, you would
use purposive sampling to identify individuals who have
received the treatment of interest and have specific
knowledge or experiences relevant to your study.
You might choose people with varying levels of success with
the treatment, or from different age groups or demographic
Quota Sampling:
Imagine a market research study on consumer
preferences, where the population is composed of 60%
women and 40% men.
A researcher wants to ensure their sample reflects
these proportions. They set a quota to include 60
women and 40 men in their sample.
