1

Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Marriage matrimony is very vital in any society; it is legitimate in the
productive process and ensures the meaningful preparation of the social norm of
society. Yet the timing and the resultant impact of early marriage is a source of
concern for many who cherish the equitable participation of female in modern
education. When girls are married at age of 10 to 14, their educational careers
are disrupted especially if an avenue for second chance learning is not provided.
Once girls are left behind in this process, they add to the burden of development
of the society and their positive roles and contributions become limited.
According to Johnson (2005) marriage among persons who are under the
age of 18 is called early marriage. It is also seen as a forced marriage, because
a person as a child cannot decide what is good to her or him before the age of
18. Even if he or she wants to marry under the age of 18, because of being
developmental age, his or her will should be ignored.
A meta-analysis conducted by Blunk and Williams (2009) revealed that the
highest number of early marriages in the world is found in Southern Asia.
Pregnancy and maternity at a very early age are an inevitable result of child
marriage. It is supposed that each year 14 million adolescents between the ages
of 15 and 19 give birth.
With early female marriage having direct impact on the health of young
mothers and their offspring, it should be viewed critically from a social and

political perspective. Health is one of the most important conditions of human life
and is the essential part of a persons opportunity to develop talents and
capabilities. Both child marriage and health are a matter of social justice and
demand protection; while health requires a fair distribution as well as access to it
(Sen, 2002; UNICEF, 2005).
According to Alteraza (2001), Ramirez (2003) and Fernazo (2009), In
Philippines there are numerous problems a couple can face when marriage
happens at an early age. They early marriage which is also referred to as child
marriage is common all over the globe and has inflicted dangerous and
devastating effects on young children who are compelled to tie the knot in most
cases.
In some areas of Tacurong City, child marriages are a strong social norm.
For parents it is desired to marry off daughters early, as they believe it is a means
of securing them both a financial and social future. Still, these early marriages
are often associated with poor social and physical outcomes. Evidence shows
that girls who marry at a young age attain lower levels of education, have less
reproductive control and encounter higher rates of mortality. Such outcomes
suggest a high impact on society at large, including high population growth, a
more rapid spread of disease, and higher numbers of uneducated women
(Lagayada, 2008).
Furthermore, a number of evidence exists on the additional consequences
of child marriages. One of this evidence can be found in the educational goals of
those directly engaged in early marriage. Female students have high prevalence

of problem dealing with the challenges. Therefore, the researchers investigate

the effects of early marriage on attainment of educational goals. Also, the
researchers will find that an early marriage in NDTC has inversely correlation to
education among girls.

Statement of the Problem

This research study aimed to make a particular awareness towards the
perception of college students on early marriage and attainment of educational
goals for Female Students of Notre Dame of Tacurong College.
Specially, it is hoped to solve the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:
a.) age;
b.) marital status;
c.) number of children;
d.) religion;
e.) course;
f.) curriculum year?
2. What are the causes of early marriage as perceived by the female college
students in terms of:
a.) personal;
b.) financial aspect;
c.) socio-cultural and religious values?
3. What is the extent of effects of early marriage on the attainment of educational
goals in terms of:

a.) academics?
4. Is there significant relationship between the profile of selected respondents
and their perception on early marriage?

Significance of the Study

This study inspires to give beneficial information on the perception on
early marriage and attainment of educational goals among female students of the
Notre Dame of Tacurong College. This study provides important information to
the following:
The Parents will understand the different problems encountered by their children
and the reasons why they are engaged in early marriage. The findings will
help them realize the importance of guidance and their own parenting
style on the development of their children that has problem.
The School Administrators may acquire significant findings that may be useful
for them to foster new ideas in realizing policies, procedures and strategic
measures in catering students with problems regarding early marriage.
They may use the materials to raise awareness towards the issues of
students dealing with their attainment of educational goals.
The Students will learn the different causes of engaging in early marriage.
Likewise, they will determine the effects of early marriage in the
attainment of their educational goals. It will serve as awareness on their
part because the results are very existent nowadays. They may appreciate
the objectives of this beneficial research study.

The Teaching Faculty may determine the extent of effect of early marriage to
the female students. The related studies is worth reading serving as a
primary tool in coping with the problems of female college students
engaged in early marriage.
The Researchers undeniably will learn the different perception of the
respondents regarding early marriage. Through this, as future law
enforcers they will know the characteristics of respondents, the reasons
on early marriage and the extent of effects of early marriage on the
attainment of educational goals. They must understand the social
condition that affects the problems concerning early marriage because this
may be useful in their field of specialization.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The research study was delimited in giving information regarding the
perception on early marriage and the attainment of educational goals among
female students of the Notre Dame of Tacurong College. A total of fifty (50)
selected female students was the subject of the research study. The research
study was conducted during the month of April- May 2016.

Null Hypothesis

There is no significant relation between the profile of selected respondents

and their perception on early marriage.

Schematic Paradigm of the Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable

Dependent Variable

Perception on Early
Marriage

Attainment of
Educational Goals

a.) personal
b.) financial aspect
c.) environmental
d.) social condition

a.) academics

Moderator
Profile of the
Respondents
a.) age
b.) marital status
c.) number of
children
d.) religion
e.) course
f.) curriculum year

Figure 1 shows the paradigm of the schematic conceptual framework on

the perception of early marriage on the attainment of educational goals of female
students of NDTC.

It implies that the perception on early marriage is considered the

independent variable (cause) and the effect to the educational goals attainment
is the dependent variable which may be influenced by the moderator variables
(see above figure 1).

Theoretical Framework
Early marriage is related to child Betrothal and forced early marriage
because of the pregnancy of the girl. In many cases, only one marriage-partner is
a child, usually the female. Early marriages are also driven by poverty, bride
price, dowry,

cultural

traditions,

laws

that

allow

child

marriages, religious and social pressures, regional customs, fear of remaining

unmarried, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women to work for money (Moffat,
1995).
Early and forced marriage is a gross human rights violation which put girls
at risk of violence and ill-health, denies them the opportunity to fully contribute to
their societies and keep them locked in a state of poverty. However, in the past
ten years, child early and forced marriage is a global problem that impedes the
development, wellbeing and life options of the victims, has emerged as one of
the neglected human rights violations and only recently started to receive new
attention (Smith, 2000).
Definition of Terms

To make this study more comprehensively, the following terms were

defined conceptually and operationally.
Early Marriage refers to matrimony of the college student before the age of 18,
it is a violation of human rights, and compromising the development of girls and
often resulting in early pregnancy and social isolation, with little education and
poor vocational training reinforcing the gendered nature of poverty.
Educational Goal and Attainments refers to the objective on the education
that the student or a system plans or intends to achieve and commonly used
by statisticians to refer to the highest degree of education an individual has
completed.
Perception refers to the way you think about or understand the problem on
early marriage and its effects to educational goals of students.

Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter will convey significant reviews and literatures that are
significant to support the obtained data gathered. The articles posted in this part
are gathered from reliable sources such as Internet sites, published books, thesis
writings displayed in library, journals and other reading materials.

Early Marriage
Tamayo (2001) the early marriage as a patriarchal cultural fact is not a
retrospective solved up, ended issue but a problem lasting with all its misfortune.
The early marriage which is the subject of this study is a form of actualization of
child abuse within the family, in the prison of privacy. This abuse may only be
expressed within the repertoire of femaleness. Regarding this language, which is
functionalized with destiny, fortune, luck, sin, immoral, the comprehension of
what it means to be child-bride, how the patriarchy institutionalize the early
marriage which we may call as legitimate pedophilia was tried.
Early marriages are strongly motivated by social and economic norms
within the context of the country. In a country that still remains largely patriarchal
and poor, marrying off daughters is one of the most common incentives to relieve
a financial burden of the family. A direct consequence, in addition to inherent
health related problems, is that due to early marriage, girls often remain
uneducated, thereby precipitating intergenerational issues of a wide spectrum.
Also, child marriage is considered a violation of human rights. Though
Bangladesh has laws that prohibit marriage at an age younger than 18,

10

enforcement still remains a challenge (Bates, Harsher, Morton (2007); UNICEF

(2005).
The right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognized in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the recognition that consent cannot
be free and full when one of the parties involved is not sufficiently mature to
make an informed decision about a life partner. The Convention on the
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women mentions the right to
protection from child marriage in article 16, which states:
The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and
all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum
age for marriage... While marriage is not considered directly in the Convention
on the Rights of the Child, child marriage is linked to other rights such as the
right to express their views freely, the right to protection from all forms of abuse,
and the right to be protected from harmful traditional practices and is frequently
addressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Child marriage was also
identified by the Pan-African Forum against the Sexual Exploitation of Children
as a type of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
According to Gomez (2012) young married girls are a unique, though often
invisible, group. Required to perform heavy amounts of domestic work, under
pressure to demonstrate fertility, and responsible for raising children while still
children themselves, married girls and child mothers face constrained decisionmaking and reduced life choices. Boys are also affected by child marriage but the
issue has more impacts on girls in far larger numbers and with more intensity.

11

UNICEFs Innocenti Research Centre (2013) published the digest Early

Marriage: Child Spouses in 2013, exploring both the reasons behind the
perpetuation of child marriage and its harmful impact. The digest provides
guidelines towards ending the practice of child marriage through changing
attitudes within families and societies, expanding opportunities for education,
offering appropriate support to families and children, and working to ensure that
all children girls and boys are recognized as valuable members of society.
The digest deliberately focuses on unions that are recognized as marriages in
either statutory or customary law.
According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was adopted
in the General Assembly of the UN in 1989 and ratified by 191 countries,
including also Philippines, individuals under the age of 18 are considered as
children. That is why early marriage problem is also called child bride.
Therefore, conceptions such as child mother, mother children early marriage,
preterm birth are concepts that have place also in international law.
Marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. In many
parts of the world, parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they
are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and
socially, while also relieving financial burdens on the family. In actuality, child
marriage is a violation of human rights, compromising the development of girls
and often resulting in early pregnancy and social isolation, with little education
and poor vocational training reinforcing the gendered nature of poverty (Huda,
2007; ICRW, 2003).

12

The term early marriage is used to refer to both formal marriage and
informal union in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18
(UNIFPA (2006). Early marriage is defined as any marriage carried out below
the age of 18 years, before the girl is physically, physiologically, and
psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and child
bearing. Child marriage, on the other hand, involves either one or both spouses
being children and may take place with or without formal registration, and under
civil, religious or customary laws.
Adolescent pregnancy
In the developing world, disadvantages like poverty, and a motivation to
protect girls and assure economic stability often drive girls to marriage at a young
age. These young women are most often married to men much older than them
and find themselves in marriages with little decision-making power, especially in
reproductive rights. Evidence shows that outcomes of infant and child health are
strongly correlated to the childbearing age of the mother (UNICEF, 2005; ICRW,
2003).
Pregnancy in the period of adolescence is often a cause for higher chance
of maternal mortality due to complications during childbirth. Complications that
often occur are obstructed labor, often causing obstetric fistula, or gestational
complications like anemia and toxemia. Such complications arise due to their
physical immaturity in structure, low body weight or small pelvic size. Evidence
shows that the most important reason for this physical immaturity is malnutrition.

13

Research into the health outcomes of children born to young mothers has
shown strong evidence of premature birth, infant mortality and low birth weight. In
addition, if the child were to survive, it would still live a life in malnutrition with
increased sensitivity to infectious diseases and illnesses. The age to which a
young woman delays her first birth has a significant effect on diminishing these
risks of poor health outcomes. Based on research conducted in low to middle
income countries, giving birth above the age of 17 was found to be correlated
with better health outcomes for both the children and their mothers (Abdullah
(2006); Finlay (2011).
Even though several family planning programs are present, the poorest of
the population often have little to no access to these reproductive health
information and services; either before or after they are married, leaving them
largely uninformed about the dangers of early pregnancy.
Such family planning programs often consist of interventions that focus on
delaying pregnancy and/or stimulating healthcare seeking behavior during
pregnancy. Workshops and discussion groups would be led by peer educators
and influential people from the community. Evidence shows that such programs
lead to better knowledge about contraceptive methods, pregnancy and, most
importantly, they increase the awareness of the risks of early pregnancy
(Christiansen; Rogers, 2013).

Attainment of Educational Goals

14

Edukugho (2002) noted that the prosperity of a country depends not on

the abundance of its revenue, the strength of its fortifications, but on the number
of its educated citizens. According to United Nations Educational Science
UNESCO (2005), in all countries of the world, education is recognized as the
cornerstone for sustainable development. It is a fulcrum around which the quick
development of economic, political, sociological and human resources of any
country revolve.
Sullivan (2011) indicates that education is the greatest investment that the
nation can make for the quick development of its economic and political activities.
Having recognized education as an instrument per excellence for effective
national development as well as a dynamic instrument of change, it is also the
basis for the full promotion and improvement of the status of individuals including
girl child or woman.
Education empowers women by improving their living standard. It is the
starting point for womens advancement in different human endeavour. It is the
basic tool that should be givin to girl child in order to fulfill her roles as full
members of the society (Nairobi, 2006). In fact, the educational empowerment of
girl child is the spring board to every other form of empowerment, political, social,
economic etc.
According to James (2008), an educated man, educate an individual, but
educated woman, educate a nation.
Education, as earlier stated, is not only about live-hood and technical skills
but more importantly provides social and connectedness or aptitude which

15

enables one to access key resources to alleviate poverty. By in treading with

others, individuals acquire the social skills and personal capacities needed to
access resources and opportunitys and to form social networks for support and
assistance when required in the future (Canlaz, 2007).
Educated woman are more likely to have a say in decision-making
regarding the size of their families and spacing of their children. They are also
likely to be more informed and knowledgeable about contraception and the
health care needs of their children. Adolescent girls who marry outside their
communities tend to lose close friendships they had formed in their parental
homes, and often become quiet and subdued. This means that even where girls
have developed social networks they are unable to access them from their
marital community (Metro, Hunyawetti and Denver, 2012).
While marriage does not have to mean that a girls education finishes, the
attitude of parents, schools and spouses in many societies mean that it often
does. Husbands of young wives are often older men, who expect their wives to
follow tradition, stay home and undertake household and child-care duties. A girl
may be unable to go against her husbands wishes and the husbands family may
refuse to invest their scarce resources in the wifes continued schooling.
Early marriage stands in direct conflict with the objectives of the
millennium Development Goals (MDGs), (Mathur 2003). It threatens the
achievement of the first six goals respectively, eradicating extreme poverty and
hunger: achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and

16

empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and

combating HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases (UN 2007).
When the relationship between age at marriage and development is
examined, it becomes clear that later marriage is preconditioned for the
attainment of desired development related goals. These include completion of
school, acquisition of training for employment, and attainment of the skills and
information related to the roles of citizen, family member, and consumer that are
part of a successful adult-hood, (Mathur 2003 and UNICEF 2003).
Women are at the heart of many societies. Regardless of whether they
are working or not, mothers are very influential people in childrens lives.
According to Department For International Development (2005), educating girl is
one of the most important investments that a country can make in its own future.
Education has a profound effect on girls and womens ability to claim other rights
and achieve status in society such as economic independence and political
representation. Having an education can make an enormous difference to
womens chances of finding well paid, raising a healthy family and preventing the
spread of diseases such as HIV and AIDS.
UNICEF (2004) argues that it is not only the girls that pay for early
marriage but that society also pays. Population pressure, health care costs and
lost opportunities of human development are just a few of the growing burdens
that society should because of early marriage. Girls education is one of the
means to address poverty and development problem. With education girls are

17

given the chance to choose their own future and not one chosen by their parents
and guardian
Malhotra and Mather (2007) argue that there is a close link between
delayed marriage and adult earning womens economic future and their ability to
participate in and contribute in the global economy are primary dependent on a
rise in educational attainment, but this is impossible when the girl married early.
Women who marry at early age are likely to find the sole focus of their lives, at
the expense of development in other areas such as formal education, and
training for employment, work experience and growth.
Causes of Early Marriage
According to UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre, the practice of
marrying girls at a young age is most common in South Asia". However, the
research also notes that marriage shortly after puberty is common among those
living traditional lifestyles in Philippines and other parts of the country. Marriages
of female teenagers between eighteen to twenty-four are common in parts of
Region XII mostly.
Revealed on the study conducted by Ingreed, Doruitz, (2003) some are
forced into this union, others are simply too young to make an informed decision.
Agreement is made by somebody else on the child's behalf. The child does not
have the opportunity to exercise her right to choose. For this reason, early
marriages are also referred to as forced marriages.
There are a number of reasons why tradition of child marriages continues.
Fear of HIV infection has encouraged men seek younger 'partners' (Yoguri,

18

Erlenzar, Romanitzky and Fritusihju (2013). An early marriage is one way to

ensure that young girls are protected. Families encourage their daughters to
marry early influenced by myths and misconceptions about early marriage. The
notion that early pregnancy leads to larger families hence providing for heirs to
the throne. Lack of education and knowledge can be the strong reason for the
world of early marriage besides to raise the economic and social status. Some
communities regard their children as a burden and think of getting rid of them by
marrying them off early in a patriarchal society.
Harmful effects of early marriage
According to Alteraza (2001), Ramirez (2003) and Fernazo (2009) there
are numerous problems a couple can face when marriage happens at an early
age. Early marriage which is also referred to as child marriage is common all
over the globe and has inflicted dangerous and devastating effects on young
children who are compelled to tie the knot in most cases.
As found out by Arenoza, Kiratizo, Dowatra (2001) early marriage can
cause severe problems like psychological and emotional stress like forced sexual
relations, denial of freedom and personal development as household chores now
become a priority. From that, the numbers of divorce cases also increased. For
some cases of divorcee, the maturity levels become the issue as he little girl is
now expected to play the role of the mother. The girls are also involved in early
childhood care. As girl children are still vulnerable and submissive, though they
can be subject to the atrocities of domestic violence and abandonment.

19

Mental and emotional stress in girl brides is high because they are not old
enough to cope with maternal, marital or in law issues. Though the respective
Governments and society is doing much to abolish early or child marriage
through campaigns, laws, policies and individual support of people, it is still a far
reaching dream for young girls who are still repeatedly forced into such liaisons
Wartz, Eliro, Grabon (2012).
Right from the beginning of ages, the effect of early marriage on the
academic performance of the girl child has been a topic for debate. In 2004,
Childrens national Day, the UNICEF had a presentation of statistical result of
schooling children to non-schooling children in the contemporary society. the
research presentation shows that over 7.2 million Nigerian children are out of
school as they engaged themselves in hawking, as maid to people or otherwise.
Meanwhile, from the above result, 87% of these children found outside school
were girls.
In a press briefing organized by the Chairman of National Orientation
Agency, Chukwudi (2008) the major reasons why more girl child are found
outside school was because female children are given out on marriage at an
early age range.
It is no longer a matter of argument that females constitute more than fifty
percent (50%) of worlds active population (UNESCO, 2008). Although they make
immense contribution to national development, they still face a number of
difficulties that limit their potentials in promoting personal and collective
development. A key area of concern in this regard is that of their education, which

20

can only at best be described as dwindling as and less than equal to that of the
male (Obaya, 2003).
It is impossible to allow girls to marry at the ages of maturity, when they
must have had opportunities for the attainment of basic education. Meanwhile,
one understand that the idea of girls being giving out to men for marriage at an
early stage of life is not really because their parents, long for such life, but simply
because of the poverty level of families.
As discussed by Luminari, Tuvera, Callado (2009) the indicator of
prevailing poverty among the poor, rural and urban populace that the world
receives from the UNDP annually is a clear evidence of lack of equitable
distribution of wealth in society. As a result, several families live below the
poverty line, living on less than 50 pesos per day. There is a fact that most of the
families in Philippines are extended, especially, with devastating impact of
diseases including malnutrition, and HIV/AIDS. Consequently, families are less
able to cater for the educational needs of their wards. When choices are made
on who goes to school, the males are given preferential treatment, thereby
leaving the girl child largely not catered for. This means that povertys impact on
child education is felt more by the girl child, as most girls are giving out in
marriage on a reason of getting money from the son in-law to sponsor the male
childs education. The question is: why must this be the case.
As supported by Yougor, Devera, and Wee (2004) part from the fact that
parents do give this girl child out on marriage early, thus impeding their chances
of education, it is observed likewise that, there are instances where the females

21

themselves bear n themselves poor self concepts of being unable to cope with
challenges of modern impressions society placed on them. This then becomes a
very serious impediments to their learning and educational pursuits. There is a
populate belief in society that modern education only emphasizes instrumental
goals, that it is mainly employment oriented. Therefore when learners complete
educational programs without commensurate assurance for modern sector jobs,
society sees a mismatch and lack of energy. This discourages participation, given
that no serious meaning is ever attached to learning itself. Similarly, schools do
not teach skills that may help learners to become self reliant and gain self
employment from their formal training.
Moreover, the female child sometimes agree to their parental ideas as
regard getting married at a very early stage of life, tentatively because of the
knowledge they have acquired that all perspective of education is masculine in
nature (Aguilar, Hunar, Galledo and Santos (2004).
Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration
and a milestone in adult life. Sadly, the practice of early marriage gives no such
cause for celebration. All too often, the imposition of a marriage partner upon a
child means that a girl or boys childhood is cut short and their fundamental rights
are compromised (UNICEF, 2001).
Young girls are robbed of their youth and required to take on roles for
which they are not psychologically or physically prepared. Many have no choice
about the timing of marriage or their partner. Some are coerced into marriage,
while others are too young to make an informed decision. Premature marriage

22

deprives them of the opportunity for personal development as well as their rights
to full reproductive health and wellbeing, education, and participation in civic life.
Negative Effects
Sevilla, Go, Martinez (2003) identifies many interrelated factors almost
similar worldwide with small variations between societies that interact to place a
girl child at risk of early marriage. Those factors include among others, search for
economic survival, protection of young girls, peer group and family pressure,
controlling female behavior and sexuality, wars and civil conflicts, maximization of
fertility where infant mortality is very high.
Sevilla, Varga, Alimoden (2009) agree that early marriage contributes to a
series of negative consequences both for young girls and the society in which
they live. It is a violation of human rights in general and of girls rights in
particular. For both girls and boys, early marriage has profound physical,
intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts; cutting off educational and
employment opportunities and chances of personal growth. In this project more
emphasis is given to girls as this is an issue that impacts upon girls in far larger
numbers and with more intensity. Besides having a negative impact on girls
themselves, the practice of early marriage also has negative consequences on
their children, families, and society as a whole.
UNICEF (2000) argues that it is not only girls that pay for early marriage
but also the society as a whole. Population pressure, health care costs and lost
opportunities of human development are just a few of the growing burdens that

23

society shoulders because of teenage pregnancies. Early marriage also

undermines international efforts to fight against poverty in developing countries.
Bunch (2005) makes it clear that the widespread practice of child marriage
makes it increasingly difficult for families to escape poverty in the developing
world, thereby undermining critical international efforts to fight poverty, HIV/AIDS
and other development challenges, and making billions of dollars in development
assistance less effective.
Zuriaga, Herrera and Bezarna (2010) argues that a number of factors
such as poverty, social cultural and religious norms, civil conflict, value of virginity
and fears about marital sexual activity are the major factors that contribute to
early marriage of girls at large. Researchers assert that early marriage is a
violation of girls human rights as it deprives her from freedom, opportunity for
personal development, and other rights including health and wellbeing,
education, and participation in civic life. Aside from that early marriage is a
developmental challenge for the growing burdens such as population pressure,
health care costs and lost opportunities of human development that society
should.
This explain why Duoglas C. Kannel (2014) says men and women who
married before the age of 20 had the highest rate of divorce, they were over two
times more likely to divorce than men and women who married between the age
of 25 and 29.

24

With this idea of marriage at the back of our mind, we can now define
early marriage according to Henry (2013) early marriage is the uniting in formal
marriage of children under 13 years of age with a much older men.
Again, Cohel R.S. et al (2013) argue that the teenage mothers usually
forgo education, even those who return to school do not continue as far as their
peers did not become pregnant while teenagers.

25

Chapter III
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents variety of theories that sustain the facts and
conclusion of the study. During the study, the researchers presented significant
theory and assessment of the collected data, which are considered best to attain
the proper objective of answering the problems and clarification of the results of
the study. This chapter established different research process. The researchers
carefully studied what research design, respondents of the study, sample
selection, sampling techniques, research instrumentation, and the gathering of
data procedures, statistical treatment and data analysis used in conducting an
effective research study.
Research Design
This study had used the descriptive-quantitative research design. This is
to measure, test and correlate the significant relationship of the variable used
stipulated in the aims of the study.
Respondents of the Study
The respondents were composed of selected fifty (50) female students
officially enrolled in Notre Dame of Tacurong College. The ages of the female
students ranged from 16-29. They were randomly selected by the researchers as
best and easy technique to gather data.

26

Sample Selection
The respondents in the study were part of a convenience random
sampling. Since the researchers have a close connection and access to the
female students of the school, many participants were selected randomly. The
participants in the study were contacted in person and given the survey.
Respondents either took the surveys in the presence or if the researchers know
the respondents, the researchers allowed them to answer it home. Research
instruments were collected at a later time.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers sought permission from the Deans of every College, and
Program Heads. A formal communication letter asking permission to conduct
survey to the college students was duly noted by the Thesis Advisers and
Program Head of the Criminology Program. After the permission sought, the
survey questionnaire was distributed to each of the respondent and was retrieved
immediately upon completion. The answers to the questionnaires was tallied and
submitted to the statistician for computing, analysis and interpretation.
Statistical Treatment
Appropriate statistical tools were used to compute the data gathered. To
utilize the information to describe the profile of the respondents in terms of: age;
marital status; number of children; religion; course; and curriculum year, the
frequency counts and percentage distribution were applied.
To determine the causes of early marriage as perceived by the female
college students weighted mean and standard deviation were used.

27

To compute the extent of effects of early marriage on the attainment of

educational goals in terms of academics was applied.
To correlate the significant relationship between selected profile of the
respondents and the perception on early marriage, Pearson (r) Product Moment
Coefficient Correlation was used.
Data Analysis
To analyze the data on the profile of the respondents, highest frequency
and percentages was highlighted in describing the characteristic of the
respondents.
As to the causes of early marriage as perceived by the female college
students, a scale of the ranges with the respective descriptors and interpretations
were utilized. The items that get the highest and the lowest mean and standard
deviation will be the focused in the interpretations of findings.
This scale measurement was used to analyze the results:
Range
5
4
3
2
1

Rating

Description

4.50-5.00
3.50-4.49
2.50-3.49
1.50-2.49
1.00-1.49

Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never

To describe the responses of the respondents on the questions on the

extent of effects of early marriage on the attainment of educational goals in terms
of academics, the five-point measurements were used:
Range

Rating

Description

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5
4
3
2
1

4.50-5.00
3.50-4.49
2.50-3.49
1.50-2.49
1.00-1.49

Always
Often
Sometimes
Seldom
Never

The interpretation of the value of Pearson Product Moment Coefficient

of Correlation (r), the following table of categorization from Asaad (2008) was
used.

Descriptive Level

1.00

Perfect Correlation

0.75 to o.99

High Correlation

29

0.51 to 0.74

Moderately High Correlation

0.31 to 0.50

Moderately Low Correlation

0.01 to 0.30

Low Correlation

0.00

No Correlation