1

CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES OF FIELD WORKERS ASSIGNED IN

RURAL AREAS OF LAKE LUTAYAN

An Undergraduate Thesis
Presented to the Faculty of College of Social Work
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges – Marbel, Inc.
Koronadal City

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

ALDRIN JOHN T. REGINO

November 2022
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Chapter I

Introduction

Rationale

Social work is a career like no other. Where a counsellor will coach an

individual through their internal struggles, a social worker will look beyond this

and consider their relationships, family structure, community environment and the

policies that impact them. With this information they will create a plan to ensure

that the wellbeing of the individual is being safeguarded and there is no doubt

that is it a vital role in the functioning of our communities and wider society.

Social workers look to improve the challenges that our society faces, but it’s

important to consider the challenges that they face personally in this profession

There is no denying that it plays a crucial part in how well our communities

and larger society function. While many rural communities are close-knit and

steeped in tradition, residents may also be intolerant to anything outside the

mainstream and unwelcoming of newcomers. Social workers work to improve the

challenges that our society faces, but it's important to take into account the

challenges that they personally face in this profession. Due to the tight-knit

character of the town, social workers may find it challenging to maintain patient

anonymity when they do contact with locals. The most vulnerable patients, such

as those who are mentally ill, may decline offers of assistance to avoid being

stigmatized (USDA2018).

Not every social worker’s day-to-day workload looks the same. From

working with policymakers to individual families, there are countless career paths
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a degree in social work can take them. While each environment has its own

benefits and drawbacks, the challenges faced by social workers in rural

communities can have a significant impact on how they work (Harding & Norberg

2015).

Often, rural social work professionals find themselves to be one of the only

forms of support available to their clients. While there are a number of resources

designated specifically for these communities, including from the Federal Office

of Rural Health Policy, these social workers still find themselves challenged in

ways those in urban environments do not. To better understand the differences,

we have detailed some of the major difficulties impacting social work in rural

communities (Bonnycastle , 2017).

Lee-Mendoza (2014) insightfully remarks that, even where social work in

the Philippines does take the form of casework, group work, or community

organizing, it is still expected in the Philippines, social workers frequently

describe their work as addressing poverty, and it is true that many of the

problems they try to solve are frequently rooted in this. However, as we have

seen, the nation imported an American model wherein employees were expected

to specialize in one of three types of social work (casework, group work, or

community organizing). Nevertheless, this does also make pragmatic sense in a

situation where just one social worker may cover a large area with extensive

social need, particularly in rural parts of the nation.

Considering the facts presented, the researcher would like to find out the

challenges and difficulties of field workers assigned in rural areas of lake

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Lutayan. The researchers interest enough to conduct a study to determine

whether field workers are aware of this type of knowledge. The researcher is also

motivated to conduct a study because of the field workers assigned to this area.

As a future social worker, this will help me understand workers and to

communicate it will also  motivation to conduct quality research and also help

worker of low income people racial or ethnic transform because their situation in

the area to alter due to their local circumstance , and significantly grow our

agricultural output unless we address our unserved broadband challenges in the

rural area.
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Research Objectives

This study aims to determine the challenges and difficulties of field workers

assigned in rural areas of Lake Lutayan.

Specifically, it will seek to determine the following objectives:

1.To determine the challenges of field workers assigned in rural areas of Lake

Lutayan.

2.To determine the difficulties of field workers assigned in rural areas of Lake

Lutayan.

3.To determine its implication based on the result of the study.

Review of Related Literature and Studies

The researcher provides a review of related material that is pertinent to the

comprehension and clarity of the topic under consideration. These are base on

findings of several studies relating to this research.

Foreign Studies

In order to achieve sustainable development in areas, integrated rural

management (IRM) has been recognised as a strategic management method. As

a result, many rural nations from both wealthy and less developed nations have

successfully implemented ICM and overcame numerous obstacles of the rural

milieu to enjoy a stable environment today also a healthy economy (Ngoran,

2016)

The rural and urban divide has steadily received more attention over the

past decade. Conversations on different values, lifestyles, and even different

voting habits have taken up space in new cycles. Perhaps some of the more
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startling differences, though, appear in the impacts of social issues (Brekke

2012)

Many social problems continue to affect rural communities more severely

than urban ones. As a result, rural social work practitioners face different

obstacles when serving in those areas. In order to offer the most effective

support, rural social workers need to understand those unique challenges and

think creatively about how to solve them.

One the biggest challenges in rural social work is a logistical one. In many parts

of the U.S., the distance between clients can span as much as 100 miles. While

this physical distance can be tiring for the social worker, it can also present

numerous barriers for the clients to access services: The cost of vehicle

maintenance and fuel can be prohibitive, and rural areas often lack the public

transportation infrastructure to make cheaper travel a feasible option. Traveling

these distances with less than reliable transportation can lead to missed

appointments, the inability to access necessary medication and complications in

finding needed child care ( Cameron, & Keenan, 2012).

Herman, (2013) added that conducting sessions over telephone or via

video calls can be a potential solution to these problems. However, some

individuals might not feel comfortable with new forms of technology, and many

remote areas lack the infrastructure to provide reliable internet service.

Any country's rural region is one of its most valuable parts.and contentious

real estate, business, and an area with potential for industrial growth (McKenna

et al.,2016).
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Most of these are gathered in the rural l zone.compared to any other types

of bio-geographic units, an environmental resource, and a physical system world.

Social workers and other mental health professionals were included in a

survey by Sprang et al. (2020) Analyze the connections between burnout,

compassion fulfillment, and weariness.among service providers from various

environments. They discovered that 13% of the sample was very susceptible to

Burnout or compassion fatigue Professionals in the sample were considerably

more prone to burnout than people living in cities A Significant findings were the

improvement of compassion satisfaction and lowered levels of burnout and

compassion fatigue (Brown et al., 2017)

Maintaining confidentiality and appropriate boundaries is a very important

concern in rural social work. In many small communities where there can be a

stigma associated with mental illness, clients are often worried about having their

car identified outside of a social worker or therapist’s office and becoming the

subject of rumors. (Pettigrew & Kirkwood 2018)…

One of the other challenges faced by social workers is that they usually

live in the same community as their clients. That means crossing paths outside of

a session is a much more common occurrence. A brief run-in at the grocery store

can be easy to navigate, but having a child in the same class presents more

nuanced complications.

Many social workers have expressed feeling unprepared for practice in

rural areas due to the wide variety of mental health and social service issues that

they encounter when working in rural areas, which frequently requires them to
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adopt a more generalist approach, providing a wide variety of services with few

resources to draw from. (Rajed ell 2017)..

The practice of social work in rural locations is also tough since it

frequently requires juggling roles as both a community member and a practitioner

.It has been found that a significant issue facing the profession is the recruitment

and retention of social workers in rural areas. (Hadji 2019)..

Urban regions employ labor, and for those with graduate-level or

specialized training Even more so, the percentage is education. Rural and urban

social workers both showed low levels of burnout on subscales for personal

achievement and depersonalization, according to a study that sampled only

social workers. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were also found to

increase with longer time in employment and more hours worked per week.

(Shimano a, 2016)

The quality of supervision was closely correlated with job satisfaction for

both rural and urban child welfare employees, according to the study, which

showed no significant variations in burnout levels across these groups of social

workers. Working in a remote area was when other aspects are taken into

consideration, connected with higher satisfaction. Having a social work degree

was linked to greater job satisfaction for rural employees. Influencing

considerations with social workers in rural locations pertaining to the availability

of healthcare in rural areas. Their sample of rural social professionals included

concerns and they frequently referred to their clientele as when they spoke about

the accessibility of services and healthcare. (Baumi,2020)..

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Having issues which could not be resolved by the local resources at

hand). Every person who sought therapy from social workers felt obligated to

receive care, regardless of the nature of an issue with behavior, emotions, or

drugs rural social workers should comprehend the rural, professional, and

personal variables that influence turnover and retention. larger social workers.

(Balinger 2018)..

Communities in smaller areas tended to stay there for a shorter amount of

time. the social professionals

Friendships in the neighborhood and less community involvement

increased the likelihood of retention The majority of the variance was explained

by factors connected to the employer. duration of stay, autonomy, and variety

(number of disciplines of study) of the training offered by the employer predicting

increased length of stay (at job) (Griffiths, 2017)

According to the papers included in this systematic review, there is a

shortage of material linked to rural practice included in social work curricula at

any level. Students who are exposed to material on rural practices are more

likely to explore working in a rural agency, as well as be better equipped to deal

with clients from those settings and stay in their jobs for longer. Conflicts of

interest, dual relationships, privacy, secrecy, and other matters take on a In a

rural setting, words have a distinct meaning, therefore giving pupils the means to

deal with these difficulties is crucial to preventing errors. (Humble, 2013)

Agency leaders must come first for social professionals who accept

positions in rural locations. Recognize the difficulties that practitioners encounter

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and work to improve employment and satisfaction while minimizing burnout.

Previous research suggested that burnout could be reduced by When certain

leadership philosophies examined burnout among rural social workers, they

discovered that those with the lowest levels of burnout had organized supervision

and distinctive. An essential relationship moderator may be supervisory

assistance between burnout and stress from the workplace. Our Results of this

review's findings confirm the significance of supervisory assistance as a factor in

rural social workers' retention. (Cocker & Joss, 2017)

The knowledge foundation of the profession is largely focused on The

profession of rural social work is developed from tales, case studies, conceptual

representations of rural residents, and communities. defining account of social.

(Drisko 2016)..

According Hacking (2021) to work practices in rural areas, rural residents prefer

to

to cherish traditions, institutions, and values such as independence, local

autonomy, aiding neighbors, and families, schools, churches, volunteer

organizations, and cooperative extension Farmers' organizations, services, and

were presented in practice narratives to suggest that the social Rural workers

provide employment community-focused action. methods to help rural community

planning organizations. Challenges and benefits of working as a social worker in

rural locations, such as having many different client requirements and being "the

sole social worker"

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According to Templeton & Mitchell (2014) Certain studies, social workers

and other Rural professionals acquired the skills necessary to deal with the

despite a persistent lack of formal resources, a rural community was able to

strengthen its local social network services are networked through inventive,

cooperative, and adaptable and coordinated financing among agencies.

A blueprint for multidisciplinary practice collaboration and education that

was created in a rural Wyoming human services undertaking. Linkage model

between service providers and mental health experts in rural areas. Rural

transdisciplinary health education projects with the best results integrated local

"connections, community, and culture." (Gambril 2012)

Field workers assigned to rural areas face challenges, particularly those

who encounter difficulties in the field. There are conflicts among field workers on

how to prevent problems that workers affecting their mental and physical health.

This is the procedure for resolving in which the negative impact to the workers is

minimized and prioritize. (Hack-Lane 2015).

Many of these challenges faced by social workers are not unique to just

rural communities. Those working on military bases or specializing in small, tight-

knit groups, particularly if they are members of that group themselves, must

contend with many of the same concerns. (Dawes 2014).

According to Weitzman and beder (2000), field worker has numerous

challenges which include personal insecurities and competency issues,

questions about field lecturers and colleagues, fears about meeting with clients

and concerns about the agency. When it comes to what Weitzman and beder
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(2000) see as not understanding field workers roles and functions as well as their

boundaries and limits. Similarly, According to Baum (2010), field workers display

a feeling of professional inadequacy, especially when they are not living up to

their expectations of performance. Accordingly, Baum (2010) notes that it is a

reflection of vulnerability of persons whose professional accomplishment to offset

the self-criticism.

While many rural communities are close-knit and steeped in tradition,

residents may also be intolerant to anything outside the mainstream and

unwelcoming of newcomers. That means social workers may have a tough time

connecting with local residents.(Mellow 2014).

Tanga (2011) also notes that fieldwork is an arena for student’s

empowerment and community consciousness-raising and that it assists them to

link theory with practice. Fieldwork enables students to learn about a number of

issues relevant to the nature of social work and to obtain a fuller understanding of

social work practice ( Baum, 2010 ).

However, Chui (2010) emphasizes that successful completion of fieldwork

is a prerequisite for eventual certification of professional status in social work

education. This is because it constitutes an indispensable and integral part of

social work training.

Fieldwork still remains the single most important factor in the preparation

of social workers, yet it is the most vulnerable to mediocrity, lack of

standardization, poor quality control. Few resources and the myriad of frailties so

prevalent in the welfare and educational climates of today. (Stan 2015).

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In rural areas social workers face a severe scarcity of human and financial

resources: poverty, social exclusion, ill health, limited labour market

opportunities. Geographical distance from big cities compounds the issues faced

by social workers: access and communication issues abound leading to a lack of

social services for vulnerable members of communities. The main missing

professional social services in rural areas are: residential centres for children,

adults with disabilities and older people; services for personal social care;

recovery and rehabilitation services; social integration and reintegration services;

and home-based social services (Faludi & Neamtu, 2020).

Social workers who practice in rural areas face challenges rarely

experienced in urban settings when trying to assist individuals living in persistent

rural poverty, including geographic and social isolation and limited access to

services and care.

They are often generalists, so they must be able to immerse themselves in

the local culture to uncover new opportunities for clients who live in isolated

conditions. They use creativity and savvy to develop and coordinate services for

individuals and the communities they serve.

Being highly visible in both work and private life, issues of privacy and

confidentiality, tension between being accepted and engaging in social action on

behalf of the powerless, needing to be accepted by the community before value

as a professional is appreciated. At times social workers may need to relate to

the same person on several levels, something that country people accept as part

of rural living. Other challenges include being on-call 24/7 e.g. being approached
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at the football about a domestic violence issue, managing gossip and inuendo in

a rural setting e.g. entering a building in public, overcoming the pressure to

conform that is placed on many rural people (Mason, 2006).

Social workers have been urged to employ Evidence-Based Practice

(EBP) throughout their therapeutic process over the past ten years. Previous

research shows that EBP supports clinical Making decisions based on the most

recent, strongest data reduces the usage of ineffective interventions. The

academic field of social work has made significant strides toward identifying

successful therapies through controlled experimental research ( MIichelle 2014).

It's thought that social Workers in rural areas use the same set of social

work professional abilities as someone practicing in an urban setting operating in

cities. No matter where they are,

Vance (2017) suggests the first step in improving rural social work is to

stop thinking of rural social work as being defined by a deficit of services. Rather,

consider the capacities of the community. This involves the social worker

listening more than talking, especially when just arriving in a rural area. It is

important to determine what the community’s values and desires are, something

that comes once relationships with a wide variety of individuals and service

providers are established. Ultimately it will probably emerge that rural

communities do not lack capacity to solve problems but lack the concrete

resources to fully deliver on the capacity they have. The social worker’s role may

be to seek out and recognize existing services and connections, formal or

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informal, and collaborate on ways to both connect clients with them and to

strengthen the services themselves through new resources or programs.

Rural communities are widely defined as areas with fewer than 50,000

people and account for approximately 19 percent of the United States population

(United States Census Bureau, 2010). Rural communities possess numerous

strengths, including rich and diverse cultures and an important role in the U.S.

economy. However, individuals living in rural settings are also faced with

challenges. Households in rural communities experience higher levels of poverty

than those in urban areas (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017).

Several studies further indicate that people living in rural communities face

higher instances of disease, infant mortality, intimate partner violence, suicide,

and lower life expectancies compared to their urban counterparts (Breiding,

Ziembroski, & Black, 2009; Meit et al., 2014).

Disparities may be more pronounced in rural settings due to fewer

services and barriers to resources (Byrne et al., 2017).

According to the Individuals in rural communities in the philippines also

report facing different issues compared to their urban counterparts. People in

Philippines rural communities indicate that the biggest problems facing their

community are the lack of jobs and drug abuse, while those in urban areas report

crime and policing as their main concerns (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017).

These factors highlight the need for social workers equipped and

knowledgeable enough to competently practice within rural settings. (The

difficulty for the worker trained in an urban, mainstream model is being able to
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seek out and identify those resources in a community. They may be hidden or

informal. Once discovered, knowing when and how to bring these resources to

bear appropriately would be the next step.) Vance points out that restoring the

Gemeinschaft of clients (i.e. supportive social interactions and personal ties) is

concerned, above all, with the empowerment of communities and individuals on

their own terms. It is the role of the social worker to illuminate pathways to the

resources and to assist as a member of the community.

Social work practice within rural communities presents both challenges

and difficulties unique from urban or suburban locations. Policies and programs

developed for urban settings may often negatively affect rural communities when

implemented in these settings further supports social work practice that

enhances the strengths of rural communities and culture while also advocating

for the needs of vulnerable and oppressed individuals. In particular, these efforts

should focus on increasing access to culturally appropriate services (NASW,

2018).

The many potential ways electronic or online formats could enhance and

supplement rural social work field education is an area in need of further

examination, particularly as advances in tele-social work and technology

continue to grow. Social work students in rural settings are important assets to

their communities and can provide powerful voices to improve the lives of those

they work with. The needs of both social work students in rural field placements

as well as those of residents in rural communities should be further examined in

order to improve field education delivery and structure.

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Based on their understanding of general practice techniques, they seek

out the optimal therapeutic intervention treatment plan and apply it to their

specific clients. However, in actual practice, doing social work in rural places is

very different. Previous research also uncovered variations in rural practice

(James 2017).

. Articles that are relevant for rural field education programs to consider.

One aspect presented in some of the articles discussed the challenges faced by

field supervisors in rural settings. Taylor et. al (2008) presented findings

regarding the challenges of supporting field supervisors in rural settings. They

recommend utilizing several methods to address this challenge including the use

of a mentorship program for field instructors as well as providing ongoing

continuing education with supportive training materials. Jhan and Oil (2009)

suggest the use of online forums for rural field instructors to build support,

develop relationships, and share experiences with other rural programs.

Japhet and Duncombe (2005) address a similar challenge and

recommend the use of satellite models that employ community-based field

liaisons. They suggest that this structure could decrease travel expenses for

universities as well and increasing knowledge of communities and cultures

through the use of field liaisons based in the community.

Unger (2003), who relates the importance of the field liaison visits with

rural field instructors, echoes this challenge for rural field instructors. Due to a

shortage of professional social workers in rural settings, Weber (1976)

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recommends a focus on specifically placing students in rural communities to

work towards addressing problems in those underserved communities.

EBP is typically understood by social workers as a particular practice or

intervention program that has been shown successful through outcome literature.

According to this viewpoint, a procedure was deemed "evidence-based" for the

treatment of particular illnesses or diagnoses when it proved effective, especially

in randomized controlled trials. But more recent research in EBP is described in

social work literature as "a manner of doing practice."outlined EBP in five steps:

(1) formulate a question about practice needs; (2) find best evidence available to

answer the question; (3) critically evaluate the validity and relevance of the

available evidence; (4) integrate the appraisal with clinical expertise and apply it

to practice decisions; and (5) assess the results of implemented interventions

(Jones 2018).

Collaborating with other disciplines to provide service to client groups and

meet agency objectives is vital for safe work in rural communities. In rural and

remote settings, patient safety and staff shortages mean that social workers,

police, corrections officers, social welfare workers and health practitioners must

be able to work collaboratively across their professional boundaries. Multi-

professional networks ensure consistent, continuous and reliable service

delivery. Networks—both formal and informal—are essential in rural practice as

practitioners face situations that may require expertise beyond their level of skill

or experience (Beddoe & Burley, 2012).

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Furthermore, rural social work is a contextually based practice field with

the macro and micro levels intricately linked. Best practice requires an

understanding of the social, structural, geographic, community, personal,

professional, practice field and practice wisdom domains and how they impact on

the interface between a particular community and a particular practitioner. It is

this contextualization of practice that is required in each and every community

that differs rural social work from urban practice.

Similarly, developing best practice in rural social work requires an ongoing

commitment to developing practice wisdom through integrative thinking and

reflective processes, as well as training and professional development

opportunities. In rural practice contexts, regular, quality supervision from an

experienced colleague is critical and assists practitioners to manage the

complexities of living and working in the same community and managing the

resulting multiple relationships with integrity. While beginning practitioners

typically align more readily with the structural domain, the journey towards a

central location within the practice wisdom domain is required to achieve best

practice in the diverse and complex practice and living contexts found in rural

and remote communities. (Darktek 2019).

Lastly , workers in rural areas use a continuum of practice options from

specialist individual counselling/service provision through to macro-level policy

development and social planning. Casework (counselling or consultation with or

without case management by a team) is at one end. Group work follows—a form

of delivery that allows people in similar circumstances to be supported in a group

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environment, both therapeutic and self-help groups. Community work is next—

working to improve the circumstances and resources of communities through

planning, researching, networking with locals, governments and private sectors,

and generally operating in the best interests of the community (Alston, 2009).

Synthesis

In how the writers' studies approach the difficulties and tensions faced by

field workers, foreign and local literature and research have certain similarities

and variations. Cost restrictions make the time and resources available for

professional growth even more limited. Professionals will find the leadership and

the resources necessary to realize the dream of a reliable, accessible, and

inexpensive knowledge service for practitioners in addition to involving

practitioners in knowledge development. Practicing social work is ‘very complex

and very demanding. A high level of challenges and difficulties are often

encountered in the activity of a social worker, which is negatively affecting the

degree of professional satisfaction. Therefore, there is a great need ‘of various

forms of support from within the work setting, especially mutual group support,

accompanied by individual differences linked to good self-esteem, personal

hardiness and resilience’ to increase the satisfaction social workers feel about

their work. The agriculture sector contributes to the rural areas and continuously
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provides jobs to close to a quarter of worker to the rural areas For many years,

rural dwellers suffered from low incomes and limited opportunities for gainful

employment. Many are poor and uncompetitive, due to constraints brought about

by insufficient production inputs, lack of farm machineries and equipment, limited

access to credit, and poor access to market, among others. Destructive weather

events are also a major concern, disproportionately affecting the poor and the

most vulnerable, many of whom reside in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic

likewise increased unemployment including among those in the countryside.

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Conceptual Framework

The major concept of this study focused on determine the challenges and

difficulties of field workers assigned in rural areas of Lake Lutayan.

INPUT
The Challenges and
Difficulties of Field
Workers assigned in
Rural areas of Lake
Lutayan

Implication

OUTPUT

Figure 1. The Conceptual Framework of the Study

Figure 1 shows the paradigm of the study. It consisted of two (2) boxes,

namely; first, determine the challenges and difficulties of field workers assigned

in rural areas of Lake Lutayan. Second, the variable box which contains the

implication
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Significance of the Study

This study aimed to determine the Challenges and difficulties of field

workers assigned in rural areas of Lake Lutayan.

Brgy. Officials. This study was conducted in Lutayan . A plan for the

Baranggay on how to assist workers assigned to these areas was provided by

this study, which was carried out in Lutayan proper to learn what challenges and

conflicts the workers near rural areas face. This plan would not only provide the

workers with preparation but also help the workers prevent challenges and

conflicts.

Community Workers. This research study aims to the community is the

focus of this study since it can manage problems and disputes that arise for

workers when they are in their designated area. They can be helped in this way

to avoid difficulties to the workers when they are struggling to their jobs. Help

make their communities better and provide them with guidance for more

solutions to their concerns.

Social workers. This study will assist the personnel in lessening their

difficulties in rural locations. This study will assist the employees in conducting

some analysis and motivate them to resolve problems and disagreements

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quickly. Furthermore, this research would increase their effectiveness in their

capacity as a therapist or advocate.

Teachers. This study benefited especially the teachers of social work

because they were the one who encourages the learners about actual job in line

in rural areas. This research may be utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the

practice in which social workers engage the programs they implement. And

provide support and dedication to the employees who are struggling to do their

jobs in the rural region because it is so difficult for them to do so.

Family Members. This study will serve as a means of inspiring the

workers who are struggling in the designated rural areas. Additionally, it

determines whether the family should encourage the workers increase its

preparation and knowledge to the workplace to prevent challenges and conflicts.

In the rural region, they are mostly responsible for their actual jobs, and their

family values belong to the workers.

Researchers. This study benefitted to the researcher gave new

knowledge about the problems and experiences of rural workers, which would be

helpful for the community to understand. It would also be helpful for researchers

to take action to prevent challenges and conflicts between workers. Thus, the

researchers should be focus on the baseline information with regards to workers

assigned in rural area.

Future Researchers. This serve as a reference for future studies who

were interested to study a topic related to this study. The future researcher must

give emphasis on what the researchers lack to emphasize. Thus, the researchers
 25

should be specific and careful in making data’s related to this topic because of its

sensitivity.

Definition of Terms

To have an easy and better understanding for the readers, the researchers

defined the following items operationally.

Challenges. It refers to the something that by its nature or character serves

as a worker, it was used to examine the whether the workers have been totally

expose to the challenges and conflicts in the areas undertaking that is stimulating

to one engaged in it.

Conflicts. It was used to determine where an individual may preference, or be

perceived to preference, their own interests or obligations over their duties and

responsibilities as a worker.

Difficulties. A difficulty is anything that causes problems. Forgetting an

answer during a test could be a difficulty. Difficulties are generally serious or hard

to overcome. If you’re having difficulty, you’re having troubles.

Field Workers. It refers to the person who were involved in this study.

Rural Areas. It refers to the climate change demand and examine the

context of rural areas management of the workers assigned, these range from

addressing prevailing environmental conditions, to accommodating the socio-

economic needs of local communities.

Implication. An implication in a research paper is a conclusion that can be

inferred from the study findings. Implications may be theoretical or practical.

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Chapter II

METHOD

This chapter present the research design, research locale, population and

sample, research instrument, data collection, statistical tools and ethical

consideration.

Research design

This study utilized descriptive survey research design. This method

described the challenges and difficulties of field workers assigned in rural areas

of lake Lutayan.

Evaluative research can be defined as a type of study that uses standard

social research methods for evaluative purposes, as a specific research

methodology, and as assessment process that employs special techniques

unique to the evaluative of social programs ( Powell,2016).

Research Locale

This study was conducted at Purok 6 Brgy. Tamnag and Palavilla.

Lutayan Sultan Kudarat. The study was conducted there because its convenient

to the researcher. This is a peaceful place and a peaceful community for all. This

area is twenty-five to thirty minutes travel from the center of the city. This two
 27

barangays are close to the rural area, and the researcher found the study's

respondents in those barangays.

Population and Sample

The respondents in this study were the selected Seventy (70) field

workers out of 147 field workers per households to the Brgy. Tamnag,Palavilla.

Lutayan Sultan Kudarat. The respondents are almost half of the total population

of field workers in Barangay Tamnag and palavilla. The researcher chose them

as respondents, since the researcher knows who were the field workers there.

The researcher used sampling method in selecting limited respondents in the

field workers. Each respondent submitted a questionnaire to answer.

Research Instrument

The main tool that was used in this study was modified questionnaire from

G., A. Jones, et al. (2009). set of questionnaire-checklist was constructed for the

challenges and difficulties of field workers assigned in rural area. The five

checkboxes was ranked as: 5, ‘fully agree, 4 ‘agree, 3 ‘partly agree 2 ‘disagree 1

‘definitely disagree. 

Data Collection

Upon the approval of the study ,the researcher will ask permission through

a letter of from the Municipal Head of the DSWD,next the researcher approached

the field worker in each barangay and ask for the convenient schedule to conduct
 28

a survey and administer the questionnaires to the worker respondents. Also. The

researcher had explained the significance and the importance of the study. A

maximum of five (5) day is allotted for the distribution-retrieval of the

questionnaire to fully complete the data gathering. The researcher gave her

utmost appreciation to the respondents. The questionnaires were personally

distributed to the respondents and, retrieved after the given time. Lastly, the data

was gathered, tabulated, interpreted and analyzed in order to present the discuss

the result of the study.

Statistical Tools

This is the following tool that will use in identifying the results of findings and

discussions in the study:

To determine the challenges and difficulties encountered by the field

workers in the rural areas of Lutayan frequency distribution and weighted mean

will be used.

Ethical Consideration

An moral rule guideline for the study period was introduced. Respondents

have the right to pull out at any time without giving reasons, including withdrawal

of data already provided. Respondents identities and information will be kept

confidential to obscure verifiable names and limit access to surveys and research

results. The researcher was careful not to invade his privacy without his

permission. The researcher should take time to select answers and always

respect and protect the pride and well-being of the members.

 29

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RAMON MAGSAYSAY MEMORIAL COLLEGES-MARBEL, INC.

Purok Waling-Waling, Arellano Street, Koronadal City, South Cotabato
Tel. No.: (083) 228-2880

SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES OF FIELD WORKERS ASSIGNED IN

RURAL AREAS OF LAKE LUTAYAN

NAME (Optional):_____________________________Course/Year:__________

GENERAL INSTRUCTION: This survey questionnaire desires to determine

CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY SOCIAL WORKERS
WORKING IN RURAL AREAS There is no right or wrong answers to this
questionnaire. Rest assured that your answers will be treated in the strictest
confidentiality and will be used solely for this study. In no way will survey
responses be linked to specific individuals.
_______________________________________________________________

Part 1: CHALLENGES IN WORKING IN RURAL AREAS. Please put a check (✓)

mark on the given option using the Likert Scale below:

Five-Point Likert Scale

Scale Range Description Interpretation

5 4.50 – 5.00 Strongly agree Very High
4 3.50 – 4.49 Agree High
3 2.50 – 3.49 Neutral Moderate
2 1.50 – 2.49 Disagree Low
1 1.00 – 1.49 Strongly disagree Very Low

STATEMENT 5 4 3 2 1
1.It is challenging for me to get feedback for job done.
2. It is challenging for me to receive useful feedback from my
 33

supervisor, on my job performance.

3. It is challenging for me to have opportunities to provide
input into decisions that affect my work.
4. It is challenging for me to know how my work contribute to
the achievement of my department's.
5. It is challenging for me to suggest ways to improve how we
do things, my supervisor would take them seriously goals.
6. It is challenging for me to receive meaningful recognition for
work well done.
7. It is challenging for me to attend staff meetings are
irregularly scheduled in my location .
8. It is challenging for me to get Job of orienting new
employees.
9. It is challenging for me to when I am given a task at work, I
know what I am expected to achieve.
10. It is challenging for me to relay essential information flows
effectively from senior leadership to lower management .
11.I feel that my department does a poor.
12. I am encouraged to solve as many of my own work-
related problems as
possible
I am encouraged to solve as many of my own work-related
problems as
possible
I am encouraged to solve as many of my own work-related
problems as
possible
12. It is challenging for me to do my job because it takes so
much energy I don't feel up to doing things that need attention
at home.
13. It is challenging for me to rely on my supervisor when
things get tough at work.
14. It is challenging for me to do job takes so much energy I
don't feel up to doing things that need attention at home.
15.It is challenging for me to communicate with my co-
workers.
 34

Part 2: DIFFICULTIES WORKING IN RURAL AREA. Please put a check (✓)

mark on the given option using the Likert Scale below:
S
Five-Point Likert Scale

Scale Range Description Interpretation

5 4.50 – 5.00 Strongly agree Very High
4 3.50 – 4.49 Agree High
3 2.50 – 3.49 Neutral Moderate
2 1.50 – 2.49 Disagree Low
1 1.00 – 1.49 Strongly disagree Very Low

STATEMENTS 5 4 3 2 1
1.I have difficulty thinking about the future and setting long-
range goals.
2.I'm too busy to plan each week's schedule.
3.My long-range goals are too far in the future to predict a
time frame for completion.
4.I always have to alter my schedule.
5.I can make a list, but I find it difficult to decide in what order
to do things.
6.I don't think about my peal: energy time; I have to perform
well all of the time.
7.When I have many tasks to complete, plunge into any one
in order to get started.
8.Things often take longer than I plan, so I seem to be in a
perpetual state of "catch-up."
9.I tend to procrastinate since I work better under pressure.
10.Writng a "to-do" list down is a waste of time/paper; 1 keep
a "to-do" list in my head.
11.I always have to alter my schedule, so I often don't bother
to create one.
 35

12.I like to work my way into difficult or boring tasks by doing

the easier ones.
13.I male plans and set aside time for projects but don't
usually use that.
14.Making a "to-do" list is a waste of time.
15. I tend to procrastinate since but don’t work better under
pressure.