Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter provides a detailed description of the research design, research

locale, research respondents, research instruments, data gathering procedure,

ethical consideration, and data analysis of the study.

Research Design

This study aims to investigate the effects of academic demands on the mental

health of senior high school students. The study will use both interviewing method

and focus group discussing to gather data from the participants.

The interview process will involve asking the participants open-ended

questions to gather data on the extent of workload and stress among senior high

school students. The questions will include topics such as the amount of time spent

on academic tasks, the difficulty level of the workload, the sources of stress related

to academic demands, and the impact of academic demands on their mental health.

The participants will also be asked about their coping mechanisms, including how

they manage stress and balance their academic workload with other responsibilities.

The focus group discussions will provide a forum for the participants to share

their experiences and perspectives on academic demands and mental health. The

group discussions will be facilitated by the researchers who will encourage

participants to share their opinions and insights. The researchers will ask open-
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
ended questions that will elicit detailed responses from the participants. The focus

group discussions will cover topics such as the impact of academic demands on

relationships with friends and family, the support systems available to students, and

strategies for managing stress and workload.

Research Locale

The study will take place at Unidad National High School, situated in Unidad,

Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. It is a public school offering both academic and vocational

courses to students with diverse backgrounds. This location was selected due to its

varied student population and its distinctive educational setting, which offers an

excellent context for researching different aspects of secondary education. The

research at Unidad National High School intends to enhance the comprehension of

secondary education in the Philippines and provide valuable information that can

help shape educational policies and practices.

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________

Figure 2. Spot Map Location of Unidad National High School

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________

Research Respondents

Procedures for selecting key informants and collecting and analyzing data are

as follows. Two students per section who enrolled in the school year 2022-2023

Grade’s 11 and 12, in Unidad National High School, and they would represent the

entire class.

Once key informants had been identified they will be given an informed

consent form that includes a description of the research study, research procedures,

risks, benefits of participation in the survey, key informants’ rights, and protection of

confidentiality. Students who signs the consent form will be participants in the study

and will receive details about the interview process and procedures along with a

copy of the interview protocol and survey questionnaires. A discussion with the key

informants concludes when all of the questions are answered, including the sub-

questions, and the information received from the key informants.

Research Instrument

An open-ended interview and focus group discussion will be used by the

researchers to collect data for this study. The focus group discussion together with

an interview with representatives of each section in Senior High which includes a tool

for measuring and analyzing the information gathered from respondents. The

respondents can answer the interview using their own words. In particular, open-

ended question for the interviews are provided to the respondents. Since they
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
provide feedback from the respondent's actual sentiments and honest opinion

regarding the impacts of the academic stress and workload on their mental health.

This are the questions that are going to be use in conducting the interview

process.

1. What is the extent to which academic stress and workload impact the

mental health of senior high school students?

Bisaya Translation: Unsa kadako ang epekto sa academic stress ug

workload diha sa mental health sa mga estudyante sa senior high school?

2. How do senior high school students cope with academic stress and

workload, and what is the relationship between coping strategies and

mental health outcomes?

Bisaya Translation: Unsay paagi sa pag-atubang sa mga estudyante sa

senior high school sa academic stress ug workload, ug unsay relasyon sa

Nakita na mga paagi ug resulta sa mental health?

3. How does the burden of too much academic workload affect the student’s

time for leisure and to socialize?

Bisaya Translation: Sa unsang paagi nakaapekto ang kabug-aton sa

kadamo sa academic workload sa estudyante sa ilang panahon alang sa

paglipay ug pagkig-uban sa uban?

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________

Data Gathering Procedure

The study that the researchers are conducting involves conducting a focus

group discussion and interview to senior high school students at Unidad National

High School. The first step in conducting this study is to prepare a letter of request

seeking approval to conduct the study. This letter is then sent to the Principal's

Office, where it will be reviewed and ultimately approved.

Once approval is secured, the researchers will proceed to conduct the focus

group discussion with potential participants. During this discussion, they will ask

open-ended questions to gather initial insights and feedback from the students. This

will allow the researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the topic being studied

and to identify any potential issues or concerns that may need to be addressed.

Following the focus group discussion, the researchers will administer an

interview to the senior high school students. These interviews will contain a set of

standardized questions designed to gather data about the study's effectiveness and

potential limitations. By using the answers provided by the participants, the

researchers can collect reliable information about the study, which can help them

make informed decisions about their research and improve the study's overall

quality.

This study will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the research

topic being studied and help the researchers to improve their understanding of the

subject matter. The use of both focus group discussions and surveys will provide a
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
well-rounded approach to data collection and allow for a comprehensive analysis of

the study's findings.

Ethical Consideration

The participants will be provided with clear and understandable information

about the purpose of the study, the methods to be used, the risks and benefits

involved, and their rights to withdraw from the study at any time. The confidentiality

and anonymity of the participants must also be maintained throughout the research

process.

Moreover, the study must adhere to ethical standards in data collection and

analysis. The researchers must ensure that the data collected are accurate, reliable,

and relevant to the research objectives. They must also avoid any form of deception,

coercion, or harm to the participants. The researchers must conduct the study with

objectivity, transparency, and respect for the participants' cultural and personal

beliefs. Finally, the results of the study must be disseminated to the relevant

stakeholders in a clear and concise manner, without compromising the privacy and

dignity of the participants.

Data Analysis

The data analysis will focus on content analysis. The recorded interviews will

be transcribed verbatim and reviewed multiple times to identify recurring themes and

patterns related to academic workload and stress among the senior high school

students. This process involves reading and categorizing the data into codes, which

are then organized into themes and sub-themes.

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
The themes that emerge from the data analysis will be presented in a narrative

form and supported by quotes from the participants to provide rich descriptions of

their experiences. The analysis will be conducted in a systematic and rigorous

manner to ensure that the findings accurately reflect the participants' perceptions

and experiences. The results of the analysis will be used to provide insights into the

impact of academic demands on the mental health of senior high school students,

and to inform recommendations on how to manage academic workload and stress to

promote better mental health outcomes among this population.

 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
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 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
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 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
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 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
CARAGA REGION
Division of Surigao del Sur
Cagwait District
UNIDAD NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
___________________________________________________________________
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