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CHAPTER III

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the plan that was followed and employed by the

researchers in the conduct of the current study. It includes the general

description of the research method and details on the sampling design utilised to

determine the number of key-informants and respondents who served as sources

of data. Likewise, this chapter presents the research procedure, the relevant

data-gathering tools and necessary statistical treatment used to interpret the

gathered data.

Research Method

To provide accurate information and to find out the underlying factors

which are considered to contribute to the development and decline of the

identified furniture-making business in Sorsogon City, this study employed the

Descriptive-Phenomenological method. This study further analysed the profile of

the identified business to establish their historical background. And more

importantly, factors affecting the operations of the businesses were likewise

ascertained in the attempt of this research to suggest possible intervention

programs to better their operations and to take advantage fully of the

opportunities available for them. Certain statistical tools were used to interpret

information relevant to the purposes of this research. And generally, the current

study made use of an interview guide to source out the data needed.
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Sampling Design

To fully understand the comprehensive implications of this study, the

researchers utilised the multi-stage purposive sampling wherein in every stage,

the researchers set a specific criterion to delimit the number of key-informants. 38

Stage 1

At the onset, the researchers coordinated with a Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) – Sorsogon Provincial Field Office personnel and inquired on the

number and list of registered businesses in the locality engaged into furniture-

making.

Stage 2

The researchers this time categorised these businesses according to the

geographical division of the City- its three districts, Sorsogon West, Sorsogon

East and Bacon. Then, they employed the following criteria to delimit the number,

to wit: (1) popularity of the furniture business within the district, (2) the furniture

business has remained operational at least for the last five years, (3) accessibility

as perceived by prospective buyers.

Stage 3

Finally, from the list of businesses delimited in stage 2, the researchers

employed the fish bowl method, they are to randomly select three business from

each district. With the limited number of businesses to be included in this

undertaking, the researchers believed that though the findings may not be

conclusive for the entire industry but may be considered as a significant part of

the whole industry.

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Key-Informants and Respondents

To ensure that this undertaking is a well-represented research, the key-

informants and respondents were determined based on a multi-stage purposive

sampling design. The key-informants of this research are the managers and/or

owners of the nine businesses engaged in furniture-making equally representing

the three geographical districts of Sorsogon City. Select DTI-Sorsogon City

personnel likewise served as key-informant. And the respondents are select

laborers and/or administrative personnel of each identified business.

The responses of the respondents were vital to validate and substantiate

the responses provided by the key-informants. As such, the views of the key-

informants and respondents are a must in this study because the influence of

one group vis-à-vis the other group. The frequency distribution of the key-

informants and respondents is shown in the table below.

Table 2
Frequency Distribution of Supposed Key-Informants
and Respondents

Key-Informants Respondents
(3) Administrative Personnel
(3) Managers
(6) Laborers
Sorsogon East District
Sorsogon East District
(3) Administrative Personnel
(3) Managers
(6) Laborers
Sorsogon West District
Sorsogon West District
(3) Administrative Personnel
(3) Managers
(6) Laborers
Bacon District
Bacon District
(1) DTI Sorsogon City
Personnel
(1) DENR/CENRO
Personnel
N = 11 N = 27
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Sources of Data

The data pertaining to the first specific problem of this research which is

about the profile of the identified businesses, to wit: (1) organizational structure

and design, (2) form of business organization, (3) capitalization and current

financial standing, (4) manpower and salary scheme, and (5) products and

services offered were obtained from the responses of the key informants to an

interview which was administered by the researchers. Data were also sourced

out from the administrative personnel of each identified business.

Concerning the second problem, the factors affecting the operations of the

identified businesses, the perceptions of both the key-informants and

respondents were the needed data. The responses of the latter are vital to

validate and support the data provided by the former.

And finally, to answer the specific third problem, the responses of a DTI

personnel served as the primary data which was sourced out through an

interview administered by the researchers. It were substantiated by the

responses of both respondents and key-informants.

Research Instrument

To ensure that data gathered were relevant to answer the three specific

problems of this scholarly work, the researchers formulated and utilised an

interview guide which was administered to both respondents and key-informants.

A separate interview guide was used to source out significant data from the

identified DTI Sorsogon Provincial Office personnel.39

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To guarantee that they would elicit answer from both key-informants and

respondents, the interview guides shall be carefully formulated in simple and

clear language. The research instrument to be used is attached as Appendices

“F” and “G”.

Research Procedure

The following particular steps were undertaken by the researchers to carry

out this study, to wit:

1. After successfully defending this study, they secured a formal approval of

the School Principal to conduct the study upon the recommendation of the

research committee and research adviser;

2. The researchers also took time to arrange the schedule of the data-

gathering to conduct interviews with their thesis adviser and Assistant

School Principal II for Academics. A parent’s permit/waiver were executed

by all of them;

3. After securing the approval, the researchers requested for endorsement

from the DTI Sorsogon Provincial Field Office. The latter refused to do so

however, gave a list of registered businesses engaged in furniture-making.

The researchers considered the list to be very significant in identifying the

three specific businesses per district. Further, the DTI Personnel refused to

accommodate the researchers for an interview;

4. After determining the actual businesses from the list given by the DTI

Sorsogon Provincial Office, they secured the formal approval of the owner

and/or manager of each identified businesses. From the nine identified

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business, only five key-informants approved the request, two refused while

the other two businesses are no longer existing. In their attempt to replace,

the researchers referred back to the list given by the DTI Sorsogon

Provincial Office but likewise refused;

5. Then, they formulated a work plan slating the actual schedule of interview

with the key-informants and respondents of each identified business in the

latter’s most convenient time;

6. The respondents also likewise scheduled an interview with a DTI Sorsogon

City Field Office personnel to source out relevant data but the attempt was

a failure because of the latter’s refusal;

7. A month was allocated for the actual data-gathering. After such, they took

time analysing and interpreting all data obtained and came up with the

presentation of the research findings and conclusions and advanced

recommendations.

Statistical Treatment

The data obtained through the interviews that were administered by the

researchers was presented and tallied to determine the common response of

both key informants and respondents. And to analyze it, the researchers were

aided by the following simple statistical tools.40

Frequency Count. – used to tally the respondents and key-informants’

responses in the attempt of the researchers to determine the most common

response.
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Percentage. – utilized to compare the magnitude of the respondents and

key-informants’ responses based on the frequency of answers.

Adjectival Rating. – used to categorize the level of effect of the factors

identified in the decline and rise of the identified furniture-making businesses.

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NOTES
38Eddie S. See, Ed.D., Thesis Writing: Made Simple, Bicol University
College of Agriculture and Forestry (BUCAF) Printing Press, Guinobatan, Albay,
2000, pp. 112-114
39Ibid, pp. 119-120
40Venancio B. Ardales, Basic Concepts and Methods of Research, Great
Books Trading, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, Philippines, 1999, pp. 57-61